Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney announced Monday that offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Garrett Riley and safeties coach Mickey Conn will not return.
The move came two days after preseason No. 4 Clemson lost 22-10 to preseason No. 2 Penn State in the Pinstripe Bowl, concluding a 7-6 season for the Tigers.
“I just want to thank Garrett for all that he did for us here at Clemson and leading us and helping us secure another ACC championship in 2024 and get us back to the College Football Playoff that year," Swinney said. I appreciate all of his efforts on behalf of our players and our program. Garrett is smart, he’s got great work ethic and he’s a great coach, but it just didn’t work like we both wanted. He’s got an amazing career ahead and he’ll be a great head coach in the future."
The optimism for Clemson this season was built around quarterback Cade Klubnik returning for his senior year, along with a veteran receiving corps. Klubnik finished the year 57th nationally in passing efficiency, averaging only 7.5 yards per attempt with 16 touchdown passes in 13 games.
As a unit, Clemson averaged 5.76 yards per play (61st nationally) and 27.2 points per game (71st). Riley joined the program in 2023 after helping TCU reach the national title game in 2022 and two seasons as the OC at SMU.
Conn was a long-hauler with Swinney, dating back to 2016 and joining the on-field coaching staff in 2017. He was also Clemson's defensive pass game coordinator and co-special teams coordinator.
“I’m just so appreciative of Mickey and the great contribution that he’s made at Clemson over the last decade," Swinney said. "I’m thankful for his family as well. I’m excited for upcoming opportunities he may have to go and call a defense and take the next step in his career. I’m forever grateful for Mickey and all the outstanding players he’s coached and all the memorable wins and championships we’ve earned together in the last decade."
It doesn't take Sherlock Holmes to deduce that Clemson's programs ran beyond quarterback and safeties. After six straight AP top-5 finishes from 2015-20, the Tigers have now finished outside the top 10 for the last five seasons and this year finished outside the AP Top 25 altogether for the first time since 2010, a 6-7 season in Swinney's second full season on the job.
This is undoubtedly a season of soul-searching for Swinney and all Clemson football stakeholders of how they want this program to appear and perform moving forward.