CLEMSON — Dabo Swinney says it is no coincidence he got his shot as a head coach at Clemson.

He also said it was no coincidence he tied Frank Howard Saturday as the Tigers’ all-time winningest coach.

“I don’t think it is a coincidence, that of all the coaches in America, I met Frank Howard when I was about 10 or 11 years-old at my mom’s birthday party,” Swinney said following Clemson’s 17-12 win over Wake Forest at Memorial Stadium.

Howard was friends with Swinney’s parents back in the day, as they got to know Clemson’s Hall of Fame Coach through a mutual friend, a man named Bobby Hayes.

“He and Frank were great friends,” Swinney said.

Forty-two years after meeting Howard at his mother’s birthday party, Swinney tied the Clemson Legend with 165 career wins. Howard compiled a 165-118-12 record in 30 seasons at Clemson from 1940-69.

Swinney, who became the Clemson head coach halfway through the 2008 season, is now 165-41 in his 15-plus seasons at Clemson.

“There is no doubt in my mind that God orchestrated all of that and I don’t have any doubt in my mind that God called me to Clemson,” Swinney said. “That is no coincidence to me. It has been my calling in life and it has been God’s favor in my life to have the opportunity to be here.”

One of Swinney’s most prized possessions is a picture of his mom and dad having supper with Howard and Hayes when the Clemson coach came to Birmingham on one of his many speaking engagements.

“It is no coincidence that Coach Howard got his last win on November 1 and I got my first win on November 1,” Swinney said. “I was born on November 20, 1969, two days before Coach Howard coached his last game on November 22, 1969.

“That was almost 54 years ago, and 15 years ago next Friday, I was named the interim head coach. All I can tell you is that it has been an amazing experience. This record has been shared by everyone who has been on this journey.”

Swinney also passed Howard’s record for conference wins on Saturday. He now has 101 wins in ACC play, while Howard won 100 conference games combined in the old Southern Conference (1940-’51) and in the ACC (1953-1969).

“Coach Howard is a Clemson Legend. It does not matter how many wins I may have to finish up here with,” Swinney said. “There is never going to be another Coach Howard. Ever! He is Clemson.”

Swinney also tied Howard’s record for conference championships last season when he won his eighth ACC title. Howard won two Southern Conference Championships and six ACC Championships in his 30 seasons as the Tigers’ head coach.

“I am just blessed because of what he did at Clemson,” Swinney said. “I am blessed because of what all the other coaches after him did, especially Coach [Danny] Ford. Coach Ford kind of knocked the ceiling off the program, if you will.

“I am just a benefactor of all those who have come before me.”

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