Clemson hires Penn State defensive coordinator Tom Allen to run Dabo Swinney’s defense
CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) – Clemson has hired Penn State defensive coordinator Tom Allen for the same role with the Tigers, a move that was finalized Tuesday by the school’s Board of Trustees Compensation Committee.
Allen has more than than three decades of coaching experience, most recently helping lead the Nittany Lions to a school-record 13 wins and a College Football Playoff semifinal appearance. Allen replaces Wes Goodwin, who fired earlier this month after the Tigers struggled against the run.
Penn State was seventh in the nation in total defense (294.8 yards per game) and eighth in scoring defense (16.5 points per game) this season. The Nittany Lions were second in the nation in tackles for loss (119) and fifth in sacks (44).
“We´ve got a great football coach – and a great leader of men – coming to Clemson,” Swinney said in a news release. “He brings a ton of experience and was highly recommended by some of the best people in this business. He is obviously coming off of a great year as the defensive coordinator at Penn State, and we´re excited to welcome him as our defensive coordinator here at Clemson.”
Allen was also the linebackers coach for Penn State. His defense returned two interceptions for touchdowns in Penn State´s 38-10 win against SMU in the first round of the College Football Playoff.
The Nittany Lions also held Heisman Trophy runner-up Ashton Jeanty to a season-low 3.47 yards per carry and no touchdowns in a 31-14 win in the CFP quarterfinals.
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Who is Clemson’s New Defensive Coordinator?
On the afternoon of Tuesday, January 14th Clemson Athletics and Dabo Swinney officially announced Tom Allen will be the new defensive Coordinator. Allen joins the Tigers following a short stint at Penn State. It was rumored that a candidate being considered for the job was on a team still competing in the college football playoff. Therefore talks had to remain minimal and quiet during that team’s run.
Penn State lost to Notre Dame in the semi-final of the playoffs on Thursday, January 9th. It did not long after for talks between Clemson and Allen to intensify. By Monday, January 13th it was reported a deal with Allen was in the works. Now that deal has been made official by the Clemson Board of Trustees. Allen is the new leader of the Tiger defense.
Who is Clemson’s New Defensive Coordinator?
Who is Tom Allen?
Allen joins the Clemson staff with over 30 years of coaching experience. He has coached at every level starting with high school early on in his career. Allen was the defensive coordinator at three different schools in the state of Indiana. Those schools were Armwood High School, Marion High School, and Ben Davis High School. He was also a head coach at the high school level first at Temple Heights High School. Later on, he would be promoted from his coordinator position at Ben Davis High School to its Head coach.
