By Will Vandervort.

ORLANDO, Fla. — It appears Brent Venables is getting a raise.

Clemson Athletic Director Dan Radakovich told the media after the Tigers’ final practice session for Monday’s Russell Athletic Bowl that he and head coach Dabo Swinney have already begun discussing a new contract for the defensive coordinator.

“We have talked about that and we will probably finalize all of that once we get back from the game,” Radakovich said Saturday.

Of course Radakovich and Swinney have a lot of money to work with now that former offensive coordinator Chad Morris is the new head coach at SMU. Morris was making $1.3 million a year as one of the highest paid coordinators in the country.

Venables can make a strong case he is worth the raise. He has taken a defense three years removed from the embarrassment of the 2012 Orange Bowl when the Tigers gave up a bowl-record 70 points to West Virginia and has turned them into the No. 1 defense in the country.

The Tigers, who will play Oklahoma in the Russell Athletic Bowl, lead the country in total defense at 259.6 yards per game and rank in the top 10 nationally in nine other categories. Clemson leads the ACC in total defense, scoring defense and pass efficiency defense.

“I have already worked through all that stuff. That is something I do every year,” Swinney said. “I sit down with Dan in the postseason and I kind of give Dan a season review and kind of where I am and what I think and the things we need to discuss moving forward and continue to get better.

“That is something I do every year. He and I have already met a couple of times and those are things we will take care and finalize things when we get back. The staff has done a great job this year, there is no question.”

Facilities update. Radakovich says the new football upgrades to the South and North sides of Memorial Stadium are well under way as Clemson is installing new club level seats and boxes for high-dollar donors. Of course the oculus in front of the WestZone is also being put in.

The contractors who is doing the work to the club boxes and is doing the work in Littlejohn Coliseum is the same guy that recently completed the luxury boxes in the Citrus Bowl, the site of Monday’s Russell Athletic Bowl.

“This morning we took a tour with him and looked at some of the things that they did there and how they did them and hopefully we will be able to take back and idea or two to help push our process forward even more quickly,” the Clemson Athletic Director said.

Baseball facilities update. Radakovich says the lower seating area behind home plate at Doug Kingsmore Stadium will be completed by the start of the season, however, the players’ lounge and locker room area will not be done until April.