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CLEMSON — Though Clemson has not officially announced any changes to its coaching staff, The Clemson Insider reported late Wednesday night that head coach Dabo Swinney is moving in a different direction at defensive coordinator.
As TCI reported, Wes Goodwin, who has been Clemson’s defensive coordinator the last three years, has been informed he will not return to run the Tigers’ defense in 2025, according to multiple sources.
With the change coming at defensive coordinator, TCI has already been working with several sources on who might be potential candidates for the job. As you know from TCI’s report last Saturday, Swinney is looking for an experienced defensive coordinator to replace Goodwin.
In speaking with sources the last few days, three candidate names have emerged — Tennessee defensive coordinator Tim Banks, Illinois defensive coordinator Aaron Henry and Georgia Tech defensive coordinator Tyler Santucci. This may certainly not be the entire list.
Also longtime Clemson assistant Mike Reed, who is Swinney’s assistant head coach, could be an in-house candidate. Reed has been an assistant coach under Swinney since 2013, primarily coaching the cornerbacks.
However, as we reported, Swinney will likely go after a more experienced defensive coordinator to fill the position, much like he did last year when filling his offensive line position with Matt Luke.
This past year under Banks, Tennessee had one of the top defensive units in the country. The Volunteers ranked eighth nationally in scoring defense (16.1 ppg), seventh in total defense (293.2 ypg) and 10th in rushing defense (103.9).
The Vols’ defense also ranked sixth nationally in rushing yards allowed per attempt (2.97), sixth in yards per play allowed (4.56), ninth in tackles for loss (100), tied for seventh in TD passes allowed (11), sixth in third down defense (30.3 percent) and 12th in red zone defense (72.97 percent).
Banks, 53, has been Tennessee’s defensive coordinator since 2021. He has been a defensive coordinator since 2007 when he was at Central Michigan. He also was either the defensive coordinator or co-defensive coordinator at Cincinnati, Illinois and Penn State. He also was a candidate for the 2023 Broyles Award, as the nation’s top assistant coach.
Henry, 36, completed his second season as Illinois’ defensive coordinator in 2024 and his fourth on staff with the Fighting Illini. According to Illinois’ official site, he was promoted to Illinois’ defensive coordinator in December 2022 after spending two seasons as the Illini’s defensive backs coach from 2021-22.
In 2024, Henry led a Fighting Illini defensive unit that improved more than 50 spots year-over-year to rank 40th in the nation in scoring defense (22.1 ppg) during the regular season. That improvement in Henry’s second campaign as defensive coordinator helped the Illini to a 10-3 record; a final regular-season ranking of 21in the AP, Coaches, and CFP polls.
The Illini defeated South Carolina, 21-17, in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl on Dec. 31. They held Gamecock quarterback LaNorris Sellers to 19 rushing yards on 11 carries, 1.7 yards per carry.
Sellers ran for 166 yards, scored two touchdowns and averaged 10.4 yards per carry in South Carolina’s win at Clemson Nov. 30.
Henry has been a coach since 2014 and has also worked at Arkansas, Rutgers, NC State and Vanderbilt in his 11-plus years in the business.
Under Santucci, Georgia Tech’s defense improved immensely, as he just finished his first year at Tech. The Yellow Jackets finished fourth in the ACC in total defense this year.
Santucci, 36, has also been a defensive coordinator or co-defensive coordinator at Duke and Texas A&M.
According to Georgia Tech’s official website, in one season at Duke (2023), Santucci directed the ACC’s top-ranked scoring defense, allowing just 19.0 points per game, which was good for 16th nationally. The Blue Devils also ranked among the nation’s top 50 in rushing defense, passing defense, total defense, tackles for loss, third-down defense, fourth-down defense and red-zone defense.
For his role in directing the ACC’s top scoring defense, he was a nominee for the 2023 Broyles Award.
Prior to his lone season at Duke, Santucci spent three seasons at Texas A&M (2020-22), serving as linebackers coach for all three seasons and as co-defensive coordinator in his final campaign with the Aggies in 2022. As co-defensive coordinator, where he direct the nation’s No. 1 pass defense (156.2 ypg) and a top 25 scoring defense (20.7 ppg).
