Dabo Swinney’s seven returning on the field coaches received a combined $700,075 increase in salary from the year before after the Clemson Board of Trustees approved the salary increases at their quarterly meetings on Thursday at the Madren Center in Clemson.
Overall, Clemson’s nine on-field coaches will make $5.725 million this year, an increase of $335,000 from 2016. The Clemson staff ranks second nationally in base salary. LSU is ranked No. 1.
Clemson defensive coordinator Brent Venables led the way with a $270,000 raise. It is a one-year deal worth $1.7 million overall.
Venables’ new contract ranks second nationally among assistant coaches behind LSU’s Dave Aranda, who will reportedly make $1.8 million next season as its defensive coordinator.
Venables just finished up his fifth season at Clemson where he led the Tigers to a fourth straight top-10 season in total defense. The Tigers ranked 8th nationally in total defense and 10th in scoring defense in 2016. He won the Frank Broyles Award in December as the nation’s best assistant coach.
“He in my view is the best assistant coach in the country,” Clemson athletic director Dan Radakovich said. “He is in a good neighborhood.”
Co-offensive coordinators Tony Elliott and Jeff Scott will make $800,000, a $157,000 raise, and received a new two-year deal on Thursday.
The Tigers, who won the national championship last month by beating Alabama in the title game, ranked 12th nationally in total offense at 503.7 yards per game and 14th in scoring offense at 39.2 points per game.
Mickey Conn, who was hired last month as Swinney’s new co-defensive backs coach, will make $350,000 as part of a two-year deal. His salary increased $260,000 from when he was a defensive analysis coach in 2016.
The BOT approved new defensive line coach Todd Bates’ two-year deal last week. He will make $250,000.
Quarterbacks coach and recruiting coordinator Brandon Streeter saw his salary increase to $430,000, a $55,000 raise. Offensive line coach Robbie Caldwell got a $50,000 raise, while tight ends coach Danny Pearman got a $25,000 raise and defensive backs coach Mike Reed got a $20,000.
“This is something that has been incredibly important to Dabo over the last three to four years,” Radakovich said. “Our coaches do such a great job that they are compensated at a level that is commensurate with their output and that certainly has occurred. We have an incredible staff and they should be compensated well, and I think they are.”
Clemson strength and conditioning coach Joey Baton received a $90,000 raise and saw his salary go from $360,000 to $450,000.
Clemson football’s assistant coaches’ salaries for 2017
Brent Venables: $1.7 million. Last year Venables made $1.430 million, including signing bonuses
Tony Elliott: $800,000. (2-year contract). Last year, Elliott made $643,000, including signing bonus
Jeff Scott: $800,000. (2-year contract). Last year, Scott made $643,000, including signing bonus
Robbie Caldwell: $515,000. Last year Caldwell made $465,000
Danny Pearman: $460,000. Last year Pearman made $435,000
Mike Reed: $420,000. Last year Reed made $400,000
Brandon Streeter: $430,000. Last year Streeter made $375,000
Mickey Conn: $350,000. Last year Conn made $90,000 as a defensive analysis coach.
Todd Bates: $250,000 new coach (approved last week)
Joey Batson: $450,000. Last year Batson made $360,000
— Photo Credit: Dawson Powers-USA TODAY Sports
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