The Zeitgeist List · coaching
Clemson: a coaching history
See Clemson’s full 91-year Zeitgeist History →← all coaches
Program GOAT
Dabo Swinney
1 Dynasty · 10 Blue-Blood seasons
Built by
Danny Ford
Regional Program II → Power Program I (+36.5)
The fall
Tommy West
Power Program I → National Program I (−12.4)
Right now
Dabo Swinney
already the greatest coach in Clemson history by the numbers
Dabo Swinney is already the greatest coach in Clemson history by the numbers.
Stature & coaches, 1936–2026
The program’s standing over time, with every coach’s tenure beneath it — read down to see who was there for each rise and fall.
Every coach
2008–now
Dabo Swinneytransformer
+36.1
180–47
1999–2008
Tommy Bowdencaretaker
Power Program III
72–45
1993–1998
Tommy Westinheritor
−12.4
31–28
1990–1993
Ken Hatfieldinheritor
Power Program I
32–13
1978–1989
Danny Fordtransformer
+36.5
96–29
1973–1976
Red Parkercaretaker
Regional Program I
17–25
1970–1972
Cecil Ingramcaretaker
National Program III
12–21
1940–1969
Frank Howardcaretaker
+9.6
165–118
1936–1939
Jess Neelycaretaker
National Program II
25–11