4 Clemson Assistants Receive Raises, Austin’s Compensation Announced by BOT
Four assistants on Clemson’s football staff received raises Wednesday, while one was officially added to the staff.
Clemson University’s Board of Trustees’ Compensation Committee officially approved new contracts for cornerbacks coach Mike Reed, defensive ends coach Lemanski Hall, running backs coach C.J. Spiller and wide receivers coach Tyler Grisham.
The board also officially approved Thomas Austin as the Tigers’ new offensive line coach. Austin replaces Robbie Caldwell on Dabo Swinney’s staff. His contract runs to 2024 and he will start off making $450,000 a year.
"He’s been incredibly well-groomed and well-prepared," Swinney said of Austin in a press release. "He’s going to do a fantastic job with that offensive line along with Brandon Thomas, who has come in to be our on-field graduate assistant coach.”
Caldwell retired as a football coach following Clemson’s Cheez-It Bowl victory over Iowa State on Dec. 29. He will now serve as Swinney’s new director of high school relations and player development and will make $250,000 a year.
With Austin joining the staff, plus Monday’s raises for Reed, Hall, Spiller and Grisham, Clemson’s 10 on-field coaches will make a combined $6.55 million in 2022. That, of course, is down nearly $2 million from the $8.425 million last year’s staff made, which included Brent Venables and Tony Elliott, who have since moved on to be head coaches at Oklahoma and Virginia.
Venables and Elliott were the two highest paid assistant coaches in college football last season. Venables made $2.5 million as the defensive coordinator, while Elliott was making $2 million as the offensive coordinator.
“Obviously we’ve had a lot of transition this year, and it’s exciting in two ways," Swinney said. "I’m excited for those on the staff that had opportunities to go lead programs or maybe step up with some promotion opportunities, but I’m super excited about the opportunity to bring some new people in here and also promote people within our program."
Reed, who received a raise and promotion to special teams coordinator back on Dec. 14, to go with his cornerbacks coaching duties, was promoted to Assistant Head Coach and was given an additional raise of $50,000 on Wednesday. He is now making $750,000 a year and his contract still runs to 2025.
Hall, who is going into his fifth season at Clemson, will have his salary increase from $500,000 to $625,000 and he had one year added to his contract that will run to 2024.
Spiller also had a year added on to his deal, while also having his salary increase from $300,000 to $450,000. Grisham also got a raise. Like Spiller, he got a $150,000 increase and will be making $450,000 this season. His contract also runs to 2024 and he was named as Swinney's new recruiting coordinator.
“We’ve got a great staff. It’s going to be fun to start fresh with this group and attack spring practice and our offseason program," Swinney said. "We’ve got a lot of great energy. It’s fun to be settled and have everybody in their new roles. We do have new people but also new opportunities within our staff that everyone is excited about."
Austin returned to Clemson last year as an offensive analyst, following two years at Georgia State as its offensive line coach. Prior to going to Georgia State, he was on Swinney’s staff from 2015-’18 as a graduate assistant coach.
"It’s something that we knew was going to happen at some point, and it was one of the main reasons I brought him back from Georgia State," Swinney said.
Austin played on Clemson’s offensive line from 2006-’09 and was on the Clemson team when Swinney took over as the interim head coach in 2008. He played for Swinney in 2009, as well, helping the Tigers to their first ACC Championship Game appearance.
As a player, Austin was an All-America and two-time all-conference lineman, who started 38 games for the Tigers from 2006-’09. Following his college career, he signed an NFL free agent contract with the New England Patriots in 2010. He played in the NFL with Houston, Carolina and Indianapolis from 2010-13.
On Dec. 14, quarterbacks coach Brandon Streeter was promoted to offensive coordinator. He is now making $925,000 a year and is the highest paid assistant on Swinney's staff.
Swinney also promoted Wes Goodwin from Senior Defensive Analyst to co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach. He will make $850,000 this coming season.
Mickey Conn, Clemson's safeties coach, was also promoted to co-defensive coordinator and will make $800,000 in 2022.
Kyle Richardson was named the Tigers' new tight ends coach on Dec. 14 and he will make $500,000 this year, while on Jan. 7, Nick Eason replaced Todd Bates as defensive tackles coach.
Eason was approved for a $750,000 deal when he was hired, which will run to 2025.
Other members of Clemson Football Staff who received raises or had a year added to contract:
Joey Batson, Director of Football Strength & Conditioning: Add one year to the term
Woody McCorvey, Chief of Staff: Add one year, $500,000
Mike Dooley, Director of Football Administration & Player Personnel: Add one year, $325,000
Jeff Davis, Director of Football Administration & Player Personnel: Add one year, $315,000
Jordan Sorrells, Senior Director of Football Recruiting & Player Development: Add one year, $315,000
Danny Pearman, Director of Football Scouting: Add one year to the term
D.J. Gordon, Director of Football Operations & External Affairs: Add two years to the term, $250,000
Bill Spiers, Senior Assistant for Special Teams & Offensive Analyst: $250,000
New Hires to the Football Staff
John Grass — Special Assistant to the Offense
Jody Evans — Assistant Director of Football Operations
Carter Thomason* — Defensive Analyst
Tyrone Crowder* — Offensive Player Development
Dennis Love — Assistant Strength & Conditioning Coach
*Previously served as a graduate assistant
New Graduate Assistants
Stephone Anthony — Defensive Graduate Assistant
Corey Crawford — Defensive Graduate Assistant
Brandon Thomas — Offensive Graduate Assistant
Title Changes
Thomas Austin — Offensive Line Coach
Tyler Grisham — Recruiting Coordinator/Wide Receivers Coach
Mike Reed — Assistant Head Coach/Special Teams Coordinator/Cornerbacks Coach
Jordan Sorrells — Senior Director of Recruiting and Player Development
Abe Reed — Senior Director of Equipment/Facility Coordinator
Robbie Caldwell — Director of High School Relations and Sophomore Transition
Mike Dooley — Director of Football Administration and Player Personnel
D.J. Gordon — Director of Football Operations and External Affairs
Paul Anderson — Director of Football Academics and Freshman Transition
Ty Clements — Director of Recruiting Strategy
Joe Robbins — Director of Football Creative Media
Zach Fulmer — Director of Recruiting Operations
Josh Wall — Associate Director of Recruiting and High School Relations
Anna Kate Gunn — Assistant Director of Player Development and Freshman Transition
DeAndre McDaniel — Senior Defensive Assistant
