Tag: Virginia Caveliers

Friday Morning Tony Elliott Update

After a long week of flirting with two other ACC head coach openings Clemson offensive coordinator Tony Elliott’s time to make some decisions has arrived. As TCI reported Thursday afternoon Elliott and his family returned from Virginia after …

After a long week of flirting with two other ACC head coach openings Clemson offensive coordinator Tony Elliott’s time to make some decisions has arrived.

As TCI reported Thursday afternoon Elliott and his family returned from Virginia after interviewing for the job and meeting with president Jim Ryan.

Elliott told TCI when he returned to Oconee County Regional airport that he had not made a decision and that “it’s my decision.”

The Clemson staff, including Dabo Swinney, were on the road again Friday to finish up visits before they host several official visitors this weekend.

With early signing day just five days away closure is needed for all parties involved.  Virginia and Duke need answers so that they can get a head coach in place as soon as possible and work to salvage the best recruiting class possible under the circumstance.

The good news is TCI has talked with several high profile offensive recruits for the 2022 class and a few of the top targets for 2023 and they all seem fine with Clemson’s plan if Elliott decides to move on to Virginia or Duke.

Elliott has turned down some high profile jobs previously.  As he evaluated the openings at Duke and Virginia they certainly don’t have the facilities or financial support for the football program that the Tigers have at Clemson.  But they do provide him the option to reach his dream of being a head coach and a chance to compete in the Atlantic Coast Conference.

Elliott must decide whether to accept the Virginia job, continue to pursue the Duke opening or stay at Clemson and focus on the Tigers.  We expect a decision will come soon as all parties are looking for resolution.

Thursday morning update on Elliott

Two prominent figures associated with Clemson athletics are close to leaving for new jobs this week if they haven’t already. Could Tony Elliott be next? We wanted to share some additional information we’ve learned about the situation this morning. …

Two prominent figures associated with Clemson athletics are close to leaving for new jobs this week if they haven’t already. Could Tony Elliott be next?

We wanted to share some additional information we’ve learned about the situation this morning.

Clemson’s offensive coordinator remains very much in play for the head coaching job at the University of Virginia. As The Clemson Insider previously reported, Elliott flew to Charlottesville on Wednesday to meet with Virginia officials in person, including university president Jim Ryan. We can tell you Elliott and his family stayed in Virginia overnight. As of early this morning, they had not yet returned to Clemson.

It’s a reversal from where things stood earlier in the week when Elliott appeared to be a more likely candidate for Duke’s head coaching vacancy. It’s also a reminder that things can always change – and sometimes quickly – but based on our latest intel, it’s safe to say Virginia has zeroed in on Elliott as perhaps its top choice and things could be finalized soon.

Clemson’s football program is already dealing with transition on the other side of the ball. Longtime defensive coordinator Brent Venables took his first head coaching job at the University of Oklahoma earlier this week. Meanwhile, athletic director Dan Radakovich is leaving to fill the same role at the University of Miami.

Stay tuned to TCI for more on this developing story.

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Elliott may have a decision to make soon

For the past few years, when December rolls around, Clemson offensive coordinator Tony Elliott has found his name linked to head coaching openings. When discussing those opportunities, Elliott has frequently talked about how the timing needs to be …

For the past few years, when December rolls around, Clemson offensive coordinator Tony Elliott has found his name linked to head coaching openings. When discussing those opportunities, Elliott has frequently talked about how the timing needs to be right for him to make a move.

Well, the timing may finally be right for such a move.

Sources have told The Clemson Insider for the past few weeks that this year is different, that Elliott is ready to make the jump if the right school comes calling.

Elliott has already interviewed for one head coaching opening. Now he is on the dance card for Duke and Virginia.

The Elliott camp has had conversations with both ACC schools. We don’t yet know if Elliott is the top choice for either school as of Saturday afternoon, but if he is, we have reason to believe there is a good chance he will accept the opportunity to become a head coach.

Elliott has had a hand in offensive game planning and play calling at Clemson for the last seven seasons, which include the Tigers’ national title teams in 2016 and 2018. He has turned down head coaching overtures from other FBS schools in recent years while gradually morphing into one of the country’s top offensive coordinators.

A former Clemson receiver, Elliott has spent the bulk of his coaching career at his alma mater. After getting started as an assistant at South Carolina State and later Furman, Elliott returned to Clemson in 2011 as Dabo Swinney’s running backs coach. He had co-offensive coordinator added to his title in 2015, and once Jeff Scott took the head coaching job at South Florida before the 2020 season, Swinney made Elliott the Tigers’ full-time offensive coordinator.

Elliott won the Broyles Award in 2017 as the nation’s top assistant coach. Before this season, he was given the title of assistant head coach. He also coaches Clemson’s tight ends.

With a first-year starting quarterback in D.J. Uiagalelei, Clemson has fallen into the bottom half nationally in points (79th) and yards (95th) this season, but it’s been far from the norm for Elliott’s offenses. Clemson ranked in the top 40 in the FBS in both categories each of the previous six seasons, including three straight seasons of top-5 scoring offenses.

Clemson Variety & Frame is doing their part to help bring you some classic new barware and help one of the local businesses that helps make Clemson special.

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