As he begins his 18th full season as Clemson’s head coach, Dabo Swinney is grateful to still be a part of the game he loves so much.
Swinney and his 23rd-ranked Tigers opened fall camp Thursday, as they begin preparations for their season opener at No. 13 LSU on Sept. 5.
“I’m grateful just to be able to do it. I don’t take it for granted,” Swinney said. “It is a blessing to be a part of something that so many people care about. It is a blessing to be able to do life with so many young people. I mean, in just these last couple days, just being able to talk and connect on things with our team and just see how they [react]. Every team is different. It’s kind of like your children, right? Every team every team is different and, it just never gets old.”
Swinney’s 19th team at Clemson is different because it brings back just eight starters combined on offense and defense. The Tigers will have a new quarterback, a rebuilt offensive line, a brand-new defensive front, except for Will Heldt, questions at linebacker and a brand new secondary.
Perhaps no season under Swinney has had this many question marks at Clemson.
But none of that is stressing Swinney out. This is what he loves more than anything. To get on the football field in the hot summer sun and get to work. He loves to coach. He loves to watch his players grow and develop.
“I love it. I just love all of it. And this is what I really love,” he said. “Like this is it. I know y’all love all of it and every job has good and bad. Y’all got bad stuff in your job, too. But this is what it’s about. The grind, getting on the field, just the competitiveness of it, figuring it out, starting over, knowing that you’re fixing to get judged by millions of people based on what happens on the scoreboard.
“I love all of that. I love the competition. I love the team.”
Swinney also loves to win, which he has done a lot at Clemson in his 18 years. His teams have combined for a 187-53 record. His 187 wins are an ACC record for a head coach at one ACC school.
He has guided Clemson to two national championships and four national championship game appearances. Seven times the Tigers advanced to the College Football Playoff, and six of those came when the field was just four teams.
Swinney has also won nine ACC Championships, and no coach in the country has coached more NFL Drafted players.
“Everything great in my life has come through team. Everything,” said Swinney who is now into his 37th camp as a player and coach. “I don’t think greatness happens on your own. I mean, we all need team. We all need people around us. It starts with my wife. Everything that’s happened for me, you give her probably eighty percent of the credit.
“I got a great team at home, got a great team here. I love our staff. I love how things have come together. I really like the vibe of these guys.”
More than anything, Swinney just loves to be coaching. Something he has done for all but two of the last 32 years.
“It is like Christmas for all us,” he said. “You can’t do this and not love it. I love it. I love all of it. I can’t wait.”
Dabo Swinney File
- 19th season (18th full season)
- Record: 187-53
- Winningest active coach in college football
- ACC record for most career wins with one ACC school
- Clemson record for career wins
- 2-time National Champion
- 2-time National Runner-up
- 9-time ACC Champion
- 1-ime ACC Runner-up
- 8-time ACC Atlantic Division Champion
- 7-time College Football Playoff participant
- 6-time CFP Semifinal participant
- 12 straight 10-win seasons
- 13 overall 10-win seasons
- 12 bowl wins (includes CFP)
- 21 bowl appearances (includes CFP)
- 21 postseason wins