New contract places Swinney in top ten nationally

David Hood by Senior Writer -

CLEMSON – The Clemson University Board of Trustees approved a new contract for head coach Dabo Swinney during a meeting Tuesday morning, guaranteeing that Swinney will be among the highest-paid coaches in all of college football and the second-highest in the Atlantic Coast Conference behind Florida St.’s Jimbo Fisher.

Swinney, 46, has guided Clemson to a 75-27 record in seven-plus seasons as coach, including a 47-14 record against ACC foes. Hired after serving as the Tigers' interim coach midway through the 2008 season, Swinney signed an eight-year contract in January 2014 that pays him about $3.3 million. That deal included a raise of more than $1.1 million and runs through the 2021 season.

“This new contract was important for us not only for what Dabo has accomplished in his eight seasons here but for what we know the program will continue to achieve – both on and off the field – for the foreseeable future,” Director of Athletics Dan Radakovich said in a release.

The Board of Trustees approved a new contract Tuesday that will run six years and average $5,125,000 per year. The contract starts with a base salary of $245,000 with a supplemental income of $3,505,000 and a licensing fee of $800,000 in 2016 and escalates each year until it reaches a total of $5,650,000 in 2021. There is also a $1 million retention clause in the contract - $600,000 will be payable January 1, 2019 and $400,000 on January 1, 2021.

Year Base Supplemental Licensing Total 2016 245,000 3,505,000 800,000 4,550,000 *Annual compensation amount shown for 2016 to be adjusted pro-rata for remainder of year 2017 245,000 3,755,000 800,000 4,800,000 2018 245,000 4,005,000 800,000 5,050,000 2019 245,000 4,205,000 800,000 5,250,000 2020 245,000 4,405,000 800,000 5,450,000 2021 245,000 4,605,000 800,000 5,650,000

“I’m excited and thankful for the opportunity to do what I love at such a great institution,” Swinney said. “We’ve built a solid foundation of success and will continue to work toward our goals of preparing young men for their future and being successful in everything we do.”

Swinney’s contract puts him in the top ten of college coaches nationally

1. Nick Saban, Alabama – $7,087,481

2. Jim Harbaugh, Michigan – $7,004,000

3. Urban Meyer, Ohio State – $5,860,000

4. Bob Stoops, Oklahoma – $5,400,000

5. Jimbo Fisher, Florida State – $5,150,000

6. Charlie Strong, Texas – $5,100,270

7. Kevin Sumlin, Texas A&M – $5,000,000

8. James Franklin, Penn State – $4,400,000

9. Les Miles, LSU – $4,385,567

10. Hugh Freeze, Mississippi – $4,310,000

Check back for further updates and quotes from Clemson athletic director Dan Radakovich.