Why Dabo Swinney, Clemson football staff just earned $100,000 bonus to share
Derrian CarterCLEMSON — Clemson football coach Dabo Swinney and his staff earned $100,000 in bonuses thanks to their players' success in the 2023-24 academic year.
Tigers coaches, director of football operations and/or Clemson employees "whose primary duties relate to the football program" will share the amount after it was announced May 6 that Swinney's team had a perfect single-year academic progress rate (APR) score. APR is a real-time measure of eligibility and retention of athletes competing on every Division I sports team.
Clemson football players scored 1,000, allowing Swinney's staff to share $100,000 since the team scored 975 or greater. At athletic director Graham Neff's discretion with consultation with Swinney, the amount will be divided. If players scored greater than 950 and less than 975, he and his staff would share $75,000.
Clemson football also recorded a multi-year APR score of 995 from 2020-21 through 2023-24 academic years. Its score was the second-highest in the ACC and fifth among Power Four programs. It has been among the top 10 percent of all football programs nationally in 13 of the last 14 years and is among three FBS schools (Air Force, Northwestern) to produce a 990+ multi-year APR in each of the last six reported cycles.
What bonuses did Dabo Swinney earn in 2024 season?
Swinney earned $400,000 in bonuses last season. He received $50,000 for Clemson making the ACC championship game. The Tigers went 7-1 in ACC play but made the title game after Syracuse upset Miami in the final week of the regular season.
Swinney netted $200,000 for winning the ACC championship against SMU. Kicker Nolan Hauser made a game-winning 56-yard kick that propelled Clemson to the College Football Playoff and Swinney's biggest bonus of the year.
Clemson made the CFP after being the fifth-highest ranked conference champion, which allowed Swinney to earn $150,000. He could have earned $850,000 if Clemson won the national championship.
What is Dabo Swinney's contract, salary?
Swinney signed his 10-year, $115 million deal with Clemson in September 2022, and it runs through 2031. He made $11.1 million for the 2024 college football season, which was the second highest in the sport, behind only Georgia coach Kirby Smart ($13.3 million).
Swinney also hired Tom Allen as Clemson's defensive coordinator in January, replacing Wes Goodwin after three seasons. Allen is Clemson's highest-paid assistant, making $1.9 million in 2025.
Three Tigers assistants received raises in February, too: tight ends coach Kyle Richardson, wide receivers coach Tyler Grisham and running backs coach C.J. Spiller.
Clemson football's 2025 coaches salaries
- Dabo Swinney, head coach, $11.25 million
- Tom Allen, defensive coordinator, $1.9 million
- Garrett Riley, offensive coordinator, $1.75 million
- Nick Eason, defensive tackles, $1.1 million
- Matt Luke, offensive line, $1.1 million
- Chris Rumph, defensive ends, $1 million
- Mickey Conn, safeties, $950,000
- Mike Reed, cornerbacks, $950,000
- Kyle Richardson, tight ends, $637,500
- Joey Batson, strength, $625,000
- Tyler Grisham, wide receivers, $575,000
- C.J. Spiller, running backs, $575,000
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