(This story was updated because an earlier version included an inaccurate headline.)
Clemson football defensive coordinator Wes Goodwin will not return in that role for the 2025 season, according to multiple reports on Saturday. He could return as an analyst.
He spent the past three seasons as Clemson‘s defensive coordinator, taking over in December 2021 for now-Oklahoma coach Brent Venables. Goodwin served as a senior defensive assistant for the Tigers before becoming the coordinator.
Goodwin kept Clemson’s defense afloat after Venables’ exit, earning a nomination for the Broyles Award, the nation’s top assistant, in 2023. However, Clemson’s defense struggled mightily in 2024.
Clemson’s defense tied for 50th in scoring defense with 23.4 points allowed per game and 69th in total defense with 374.1 yards allowed per game last season. Its major flaw was its run defense, allowing 160.6 yards per game (84th in FBS). It allowed over 200 yards rushing in five games this season, and in each of its four losses, it gave up at least six yards per carry.
Clemson’s rushing woes peaked in the first round of the CFP vs. Texas, where the Tigers allowed a season-high 292 yards and four rushing touchdowns. Goodwin made questionable personnel changes too, notably removing linebacker Sammy Brown out of the game in favor of playing five defensive backs vs. South Carolina. That decision contributed to Gamecocks quarterback LaNorris Sellers setting a career high in rushing yards with 166 against Clemson in Week 14.
Goodwin earned a $550,000 raise in February, increasing his salary to $1.4 million last season which tied for 29th with four other coaches in assistant pay at $1.4 million. He had two years left on his contract for a total of $3.1 million. If he is fired, he is owed that full amount, but his buyout can be reduced by whatever his new salary is at his new job is.
If Goodwin takes a new job instead of getting fired, he would owe Clemson 25% of his remaining salary, $775,000, and the university has the discretion to waive that.
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Under Goodwin, Clemson’s defense has been on a downward trajectory year-to-year.
The Tigers allowed 20.9 points per game in 2022 (22nd in FBS) to 21.1 in 2023 (31st) to 23.4 in 2024 (tied for 50th). Notably, their run defense has plummeted, going from 102.7 yards in 2022 (13th in FBS) to 114.6 in 2023 (24th) to 160.6 in 2024 (84th). Their yards per carry allowed average dropped too from 3.3 in 2022 to 3.8 (2023) to 4.7 (2024).
Clemson will look for Goodwin’s replacement this offseason as it eyes to return to the CFP in hopes of making a deeper run after losing in the first round to Texas.
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: Clemson football: Wes Goodwin will not return as defensive coordinator
