Dabo Swinney signs 10-year, $93 million extension at Clemson

CLEMSON, SC (WCSC) - Dabo Swinney will be the head football coach at Clemson for the forseeable future. He’ll also be paid very well while he is.

The school announcing on Friday that Swinney has agreed to a 10 year extension worth $93 million. Terms were approved by the University’s Board of Trustees’ Compensation Committee.

The contract will keep him signed through the 2028 season and pay him $8.25 million this year and work up to $10 million each of the last two years.

“I am grateful and humbled by the incredible commitment Clemson has made to me, my family and our football program,” Swinney said in a statement. “For more than a decade, we have given our all to provide this world-class university and our incredible fans the championship football program they deserve – to live up to Best is the Standard. With this contract, we make a collective statement that we intend to continue pursuing championships and developing total student-athletes for years to come. Our sustained continuity in vision, people and culture has been a key ingredient to our success, on- and off-the field. I am thankful for the leadership we have at Clemson and appreciate all they do for Clemson Football. I am truly blessed to be your Head Football Coach.”

“Dabo’s leadership of our football program has brought value, exposure and unprecedented levels of success not only to our athletics program but to the entire university,” Athletic Director Dan Radakovich said. "He has demonstrated the ability to consistently achieve at the highest level on and off the field, and he has done so with a commitment to integrity and core principles. This new agreement is evidence of Clemson’s steadfast commitment to Dabo and to our football program, and we are thrilled that he and his family will be a part of our community for years to come.”

Since taking over the program midway through to 2008 season, Swinney has turned Clemson into a national powerhouse. He’s led the Tigers to two of the last three National Championships, won 116 games in 11 seasons and won 5 ACC championships.

Like any coach, Swinney has a buyout in the contract. But there’s also a buyout enhancement for just one other job. Swinney’s alma mater, Alabama. For the first two years of the deal, Swinney would owe the school $4 million dollars but if he left for the head coaching job with the Crimson Tide, that figure would go up to $6 million.

The school also gave Radakovich an extension through 2024 worth more than $7.5 million and women’s basketball head coach Amanda Butler was extended through 2024 as well.