Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney always has a plan. Though he was not expecting Dan Brooks to retire and he was surprised to see Marion Hobby leave to become the Jacksonville Jaguars’ new defensive line coach, Swinney was not caught off guard by either.
“I think if you are in this position and you get caught off guard, then you are probably not doing a very good job,” he said. “You are probably caught off guard in a lot of other areas, too. I always have a plan in that regard. I’m always thinking.”
Swinney’s plan was Mickey Conn, a longtime friend he brought in last year to be his defensive analyst coach, and former Jacksonville State defensive line coach Todd Bates.