Todd Bates pens farewell letter to Clemson

Oklahoma and new head coach Brent Venables dealt a huge blow to the Clemson coaching staff last week. Venables hired Tigers defensive tackles coach Todd Bates for the same position in Norman. Bates also served as Clemson’s recruiting coordinator and as Dabo Swinney’s assistant head coach.

The former Clemson assistant said his final farewell to Tiger nation on Sunday.

“Thank you Clemson Family for 5 great seasons!” Bates wrote. “It’s been a joy for me and my family. I’d like to thank Dabo Swinney for the opportunity to coach at a place like Clemson.

“To all of my players, I love you,” Bates continued. “I will miss every single one of you. You are family to me and I will cherish the moments and memories we shared.

“I’ve grown so much here and I am thankful for this opportunity to continue to grow. God bless & all the best!”

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— Todd Bates (@CoachToddBates) January 9, 2022

Bates joining Venables in Norman

Todd Bates joined the Clemson staff as defensive line coach in January 2017. He helped the Tigers clinch the national title in 2018 and reach the big game once again in 2019. He added recruiting coordinator to his title after earning Rivals’ national recruiter of the year award in 2019.

Bates came to Clemson after spending three years at Jackson State. They went 33-6 in three seasons (2014-16). The Gamecocks reached the FCS National Championship Game in 2015 and compiled a perfect 23-0 mark in the Ohio Valley Conference with three titles in his time there.

The new Oklahoma defensive line coach was a defensive end himself at the University of Alabama. After earning a captainship for the Crimson Tide, he went on to play in the NFL for the Titans in 2005 and 2006.

After the NFL, Bates began coaching in the high school ranks. He started at Talladega (Ala.) High School in 2007, then served at Oxford (Ala.) High School from 2008-11.

Clemson replaces DL coach

Former Clemson defensive end Nick Eason is likely to make the move from Auburn back to his alma mater, per Matt Zenitz of On3. He would serve as the defensive line coach under recently promoted Wes Goodwin, who took over for Brent Venables when he left to take the head coaching position at Oklahoma.

With Eason’s help, Auburn had one of the better defenses in the SEC this year. They allowed 22.2 points per game and accumulated 35 sacks. Auburn’s defense held Alabama scoreless for more than three quarters of the Iron Bowl, and they kept a typically high-powered Ole Miss squad in check, beating them 31-20. Defensive lineman Derick Hall earned second-team all-SEC honors and was third in the conference in sacks.

The 41-year-old coach has spent time at multiple teams at both the college and professional levels. After retiring from football, he was an assistant for the Cleveland Browns, Tennessee Titans and Cincinnati Bengals before returning to the college ranks at Auburn this year.

On3’s Ashton Pollard contributed to this report.