BREAKING: Clemson coach Dabo Swinney receives new massive contract

Clemson is ensuring that Dabo Swinney stays with the Tigers for a long, long time.

The Clemson Board of Trustees approved a new deal for Swinney Thursday morning that will run through the 2031 season.

Swinney will make $115 million over the life of the contract for an average of $11.5 million per year for the 10-year deal.

Swinney previously signed a 10-year, $93 million contract in 2019, before changes to his deal were approved by the compensation committee of the Board of Trustees Thursday morning.

“Coach Swinney and his family’s impact on our community and department cannot be understated, and his success and stability nationally is truly uncommon,” Clemson AD Graham Neff said in a statement. “It is critical that Clemson continue to invest in our football program, and ensure our head coach is at Clemson for a long, long time. The best is yet to come.”

Swinney is now the second-highest paid coach in college football — slightly ahead of Georgia’s Kirby Smart ($11.25 million per year) and slightly behind Alabama’s Nick Saban ($11.7 million per year).

Dabo Swinney, the Alabama native and former Alabama player, is entering his 14th full season as the head coach of the Tigers.

Swinney took over for Tommy Bowden midway through the 2008 season and has led Clemson’s program ever since.

The Tigers have won at least 10 games for 11 consecutive years, finishing 10-3 this past season.

Clemson has also won the ACC six of the past seven years and reached the College Football Playoff six of the past seven years, only failing to do so last season.

Clemson is currently 1-0 (1-0) in 2022 after beating Georgia Tech 41-10 Monday night.

The Tigers host Furman on Saturday in their home opener. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. at Memorial Stadium.

Locking up Swinney was clearly a priority for Clemson AD Graham Neff, who is in his first year leading the athletic department.