Clemson Tigers
· 2026-06-23
Dabo Swinney, the Clemson Tigers' head coach, signed a 10-year, $115 million deal in September 2022.
The contract runs through 2031 and made him one of the highest-paid coaches in college football.
Swinney's annual salary is $11.5 million, the highest in the ACC and fourth-highest in the sport.
He made $11.5 million in the 2025 college football season, with Georgia's Kirby Smart, Ohio State's Ryan Day, and Southern Cal's Lincoln Riley being the only coaches to make more.
The Clemson Tigers had a disappointing 2025 season, going 7-6 and missing the College Football Playoff and ACC championship.
If Clemson were to fire Swinney without cause, the school would owe him $57 million in 2026.
This is a drop from $60 million last season, and the buyout amount will remain at $57 million for the duration of his current contract.
The "Alabama clause" was first introduced in Swinney's contract in 2019 and reintroduced in his 2022 extension.
This clause bumps up the cost of his buyout should he leave Clemson and take over at Alabama, where he was born and started his football journey.
Swinney will have a 150% higher buyout than if he were to leave the Tigers for any other college team.
Per his contract, Swinney can earn bonuses annually, including $25,000 for being named conference coach of the year and $50,000 for each national coach of the year award.
He can also earn $50,000 if Clemson plays in a conference championship game and $200,000 if the team wins the conference championship game.
Last season, Swinney earned no bonuses despite the Tigers making a bowl game for the 21st year in a row.
The team needed to win eight or more regular-season games for him to net $75,000, but they only won seven games.
Derrian Carter covers Clemson and reported on Swinney's contract details.
The Clemson Tigers are looking to rebound from their disappointing 2025 season and make a strong run in the ACC.
With Swinney at the helm, the team has a good chance of success, given his experience and coaching abilities.
Swinney's contract extension is a significant investment for the Clemson Tigers, and fans are hoping it will pay off in the coming seasons.
The team's performance will be closely watched, and Swinney's coaching will be under scrutiny as they strive to win the ACC championship and make it to the College Football Playoff.