Can Clemson’s defensive line benefit from having two coaches again? Defensive tackle Nyles Pinckney thinks so.
When he became the permanent head coach in 2009 through the 2016 season, Dabo Swinney had two defensive line coaches. Dan Brooks coached the defensive tackles from 2009-’16, while Chris Rumph—now at Tennessee—coached the defensive ends from 2009-’10 and Marion Hobby from 2011-’16.
However, Brooks retired following Clemson’s national championship season in 2016 and a week later, Hobby left Clemson to coach the defensive ends for the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars. Swinney brought in Todd Bates to coach on the defensive line, but because he already hired Mickey Conn to coach the safeties, he had to wait until last January to hire a second defensive line coach.