Why Clemson football's Dabo Swinney is adding support staff, revising roles ahead of 2024

CLEMSON — Clemson football 's sideline will be more crowded in 2024.

The NCAA has allowed unlimited coaches to provide on-field instruction to athletes during games, and Tigers coach Dabo Swinney praised the decision, calling it "one of the best changes" the organization has made. Prior to the change, teams could have only 11 on-field coaches — head coach and 10 assistants.

On Monday, Clemson officially revealed 20 staff designations for its coaching support staff.

"It allows us to really use our resources very efficiently," Swinney said July 16. "To be able to develop your team, especially your young guys, redshirts, freshmen, I just think you've got a lot more hands on deck, a lot more eyes, a lot more opportunity to be efficient with drills, scout teams, special teams — all across the board."

One notable change is former Memphis quarterback Will Gilchrist becoming the director of special teams. He served as a player development assistant for Clemson last season and will work with new special teams player development/specialists coach Ryan Allen. The former punter played for Oregon State and Louisiana Tech in college and punted eight seasons in the NFL with the New England Patriots, Atlanta Falcons, Tennessee Titans and Indianapolis Colts.

Cornerbacks coach Mike Reed is still listed as the special teams coordinator, but Gilchrist and Allen will lead Clemson's special team units in practice and games. They will take over for former director of special teams Bill Spiers, who played baseball and football from 1985 through 1987 at Clemson and worked with the football team since 2016. He retired from Swinney's staff following April's spring game, a team spokesperson confirmed to The Greenville News.

Other noteworthy role changes include Swinney's son Drew Swinney, former South Carolina defensive coordinator Lorenzo Ward and former Clemson quarterback Tajh Boyd .

Drew Swinney, who was a graduate assistant last season, will be the offensive player development/assistant wide receiver coach after spending five seasons as a wide receiver with the Tigers (2018-22). His brother, Clay Swinney, is in his third season with the Tigers as a wideout.

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Ward joined Clemson's staff as the special assistant to the head coach and defense/assistant linebackers coach, and Boyd, who served in an offensive player development role for the past three seasons, will act as the offensive analyst/assistant quarterbacks coach.

These staff alterations come as Clemson looks to return to the College Football Playoff after missing it for the past three seasons. The 16-year Tigers coach and four Clemson players — quarterback Cade Klubnik, running back Phil Mafah, linebacker Barrett Carter and safety RJ Mickens — will participate in ACC Football Kickoff on Thursday ahead of preseason practices.

Here is the list of all of Clemson's support staff:

Clemson football coaching support staff

• Lorenzo Ward − Special assistant to the head coach and defense/assistant linebackers coach
• John Grass − Senior offensive assistant/assistant quarterbacks coach
• DeAndre McDaniel − Senior defensive assistant/nickelback coach
• Da'Quan Bowers − Defensive analysts/assistant defensive ends coach
• Daniel Boyd − Defensive analyst/assistant defensive tackles coach
• Tajh Boyd − Offensive analyst/assistant quarterbacks coach
• Carson Cramer − Offensive analyst/assistant offensive line coach
• Jody Evans − Special teams analyst
• Will Gilchrist − Director of special teams
• Cole Stoudt − Offensive analyst/assistant wide receivers coach
• Carter Thomason − Defensive analyst/assistant linebackers coach
• Elijah Turner − Defensive analyst/assistant cornerbacks coach
• Andrew Zow − Offensive analyst/assistant running backs coach
• Ryan Allen − Special teams player development/specialists coach
• Corey Crawford − Defensive player development/assistant defensive line coach
• Tyrone Crowder − Offensive player development/assistant offensive line coach
• Andrew Shipman − Offensive player development/assistant tight ends coach
• Drew Swinney - Offensive player development/assistant wide receivers coach
• Brandon Thomas − Offensive player development/assistant offensive line coach
• Nolan Turner − Defensive player development/assistant safeties coach

Derrian Carter covers Clemson athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email him at dcarter@gannett.com and follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DerrianCarter00

This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Why Clemson football's Dabo Swinney is adding support staff, revising roles ahead of 2024