Clemson's Dabo Swinney Has No Plans To Retire Anytime Soon
Dabo Swinney isn't contemplating his future after a substandard season for Clemson.
The Tigers posted their worst record since 2010 when they went 7-6 in 2025. Leaving Clemson still isn't on Swinney's mind as he enters his 18th season as head coach.
Swinney told On3's Chris Low that he's given no thought to retirement. The 56-year-old is instead focused on getting Clemson "back to the top."
"Hell no. I mean, I'm just getting going," Swinney said. "I'm right about the same age Nick (Saban) was when he got to Alabama. So I'm just getting going, man. I love a challenge, and again, all we've done is win."
Swinney, Clemson look to bounce back in 2026
Iowa's Kirk Ferentz is the only active Division I head coach to win more games with the same program than Swinney's 187 at Clemson. He's tied with Urban Meyer and Jess Neely for 29th on the all-time leaderboard, ranking third among active coaches behind Ferentz and Brian Kelly.
The two-time ACC Coach of the Year has led the Tigers to two national titles and four National Championship Game appearances. However, Clemson hasn't maintained those same elevated standards during the NIL era.
The Tigers have gone six seasons without a College Football Playoff win and went 4-4 in ACC play twice in the last three years. Clemson hasn't made much noise through the transfer portal like other major programs, so pressure is mounting for Swinney to rebound from a disappointing 2025 campaign.
While Swinney may handle his business differently, he defended his impressive resume as one of the game's most accomplished coaches entering a pivotal season.
"Sometimes, people want me to be like this guy or that guy, and I'm like, 'What's that guy done? How many championships has that guy won?' I've got 11 championships," Swinney said. "The next closest is Kirby (Smart), who's got six. I've got seven playoff appearances. There ain't another coach still coaching with seven playoff appearances."
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This story was originally published June 9, 2026 at 11:07 AM.