Clemson BOT approves raises for football assistants, Wes Goodwin salary balloons to $1.4 million

Dabo Swinney took a risk when he hired Wes Goodwin to replace Brent Venables as the Clemson defensive coordinator.

That risk has paid off as Goodwin and the Tigers had one of the top defenses in the country this past season. Goodwin was rewarded for his unit’s strong showing with a sizeable salary increase on Friday.

The Clemson Board of Trustees approved raises and extensions for several Clemson assistants, with Goodwin getting the biggest bump.

The 39-year-old saw his salary increase from $850,000 to $1.4 million on Friday. Clemson’s other coordinator — Garrett Riley — was already the highest-paid assistant coach in the country last year at $2.05 million. Riley did not receive a raise but did have a year added to his contract.

In addition to Goodwin, six other Tigers assistants also received raises on Friday.

Clemson defensive run game coordinator/defensive tackles coach Nick Eason received a bump from $800,000 to $1.1 million.

Eason, who played at Clemson, has proven himself to be an excellent recruiter during his two seasons at Clemson.

Assistant head coach, special teams coordinator and cornerbacks coach Mike Reed also received a pay increase. Reed saw his salary go from $800,000 to $900,000.

Reed has been on staff at Clemson since 2013. He has helped develop several excellent cornerbacks who are now in the NFL and is also a really good recruiter.

Co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach Mickey Conn went from making $800,000 to $900,000. The former high school coach in Georgia started as an analyst with the Tigers, before working his way up to his current role.

Those four assistants and defensive ends coach Chris Rumph make up the Clemson staff on the defensive side of the ball. Rumph signed a three-year, $3.05 million deal in December.

All five defensive coaches have contracts through Jan. 31, 2027.

On the offensive side of the ball, passing game coordinator and tight ends coach Kyle Richardson received a bump from $500,000 to $600,000.

Richardson was promoted to an on-field role in 2022, after previously working as an analyst. Before coming to Clemson, he was a high school coach at Northwestern High.

Recruiting coordinator and wide receivers coach Tyler Grisham is now making $550,000, after previously making $450,000.

Grisham has been a full-time member of Clemson’s staff since 2020. He signed a pair of highly-rated receivers this year in TJ Moore and Bryant Wesco.

Running backs coach CJ Spiller also received a bump from $450,000 to $550,000. The former Tigers star has been on staff at Clemson as running backs coach since 2021.

Richardson, Grisham and Spiller have deals through the 2026 season. Riley’s runs through 2027.

The final members of Clemson’s offensive staff is offensive line coach Matt Luke, who signed a three-year deal in December. Luke’s deal is for a total of 3.275 million.