Dabo Swinney’s 2024 defense? Not quite vintage Dabo. After a rough 2023, they managed to bounce back and snag the ACC title. The team finished with a 10-4 record, but the defense showed some cracks. Missed tackles, blown coverages, and costly lapses kept them from being elite. Against top competition, the defense got exposed. The front seven flashed dominance, but the secondary? Too many breakdowns, and too many big plays allowed. It showed in the biggest moments, and it cost them. But Swinney knows one thing: defense wins championships. That’s why he’s making moves this offseason.

To shake things up, Swinney’s program parted ways with Wes Goodwin and brought in a fresh, aggressive mindset. Enter Tom Allen—the former Indiana head coach and a defensive mastermind. But Clemson isn’t messing around. Fixing the defense? They’re all in. Their latest move? Bringing in a defensive analyst to shake things up. And not just anyone—a former East Carolina head coach. Once again, the big powerhouse program is proving they do things differently. As they gear up for the 2025 season, the 10-4 ACC squad is making it clear—they’re not settling.

ESPN’s Pete Thamel broke the news—Mike Houston is joining the Tigers’ staff. And trust this, he’s got the resume to back it up. The 53-year-old North Carolina native has been grinding in the coaching game for decades. High school sidelines? Been there. College ranks? Dominated. He kicked off his college coaching journey in 2006 at Brevard before making waves at Lenoir-Rhyne, first as a defensive coordinator, then as head coach. Clemson isn’t just adding experience—they’re adding a proven leader with serious defensive chops.

And Houston’s coaching journey? Stacked with success. From The Citadel (2014-15) to James Madison (2016-17), he built winners. At JMU, he didn’t just compete—he dominated. 2016 FCS National Champion. 2017? Back in the title game. Houston knows how to build a defense that hits hard and wins big. Now, he’s taking that championship pedigree to Clemson. He will be a key piece in Swinney’s defensive rebuild, working alongside new defensive coordinator Tom Allen from Penn State. Looks like the Tigers’ defense is getting a serious upgrade.

However, Houston may be just an analyst, but make no mistake—his impact will be felt. He won’t be on the field, in the press box, or out recruiting, but his football IQ is elite. Having a championship-winning head coach in the room is a game-changer. His experience, attention to detail, and defensive expertise will give Clemson’s staff a fresh edge.

But Houston isn’t the only new addition—Clemson’s not done yet. Dabo Swinney is stacking his staff with more firepower, bringing in another off-field assistant.

Clemson Tigers’ newest member

On top of the likely Mike Houston hire, the Tigers just made a major off-field move. Kevin Kelly, an NFL scout with experience working with the Chargers, Jets, Colts, and Browns, is taking over as Clemson’s Director of Player Evaluation and Acquisition. This is a huge move, not just a title. Kelly brings over two decades of NFL-level scouting expertise to the Tigers, ensuring they find, develop, and land top-tier talent. He’s bringing his keen eye for talent to Clemson after spending the last 12 seasons with the LA Chargers, most recently as Senior Scouting Executive.

Getting Kevin Kelly is a huge coup for Clemson, to put it mildly. “I’m super excited to have Kevin Kelly joining our staff. To be able to add someone with his experience is a great benefit to Clemson. He’s got over 20 years of front office experience in scouting and evaluation of player personnel, so he will bring a wealth of experience and be able to work alongside General Manager Jordan Sorrells, Director of Recruiting Ty Clements and the rest of our staff on player acquisition, evaluation and retention,” said Dabo Swinney.

With the ever-shifting landscape of college football, more and more programs are tapping into NFL hires and models to give their teams a boost, and the ACC champs are no exception.