CLEMSON — The Compensation Committee on Clemson’s Board of Trustees officially approved raises and contract extensions to most of its 10 assistant football coaches Friday morning at the Madren Conference Center.
On field assistant coaches C.J. Spiller (running backs coach), Tyler Grisham (wide receivers coach) and Kyle Richardson (tight ends coach) received approval of raises. Garrett Riley (offensive coordinator), Matt Luke (offensive line coach), Nick Eason (defensive tackles coach), Chris Rumph (defensive ends coach) and strength and conditioning coach Joey Batson all had one year added to their previous contracts.
Assistant head coach and defensive backs coach Mike Reed was not listed, nor was co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach Mickey Conn.
There were six changes in terms of titles. Eason, who is already listed as the associated head coach, had his title changed from run game coordinator to co-defensive coordinator. Rumph picked up Eason’s old title as run game coordinator, which was changed to run defense coordinator.
Luke and Richardson were also given the titles of co-offensive coordinator, while Grisham is the new passing game coordinator and Spiller is the new running game coordinator.
The Compensation Committee also approved a new Football Support Staff Post-season Bonus Structure.
Richardson will see an increase from $600,000 to $637,500 in 2025 and $675,000 in 2026. Grisham will receive an increase from $550,000 to $575,000 in 2025 and $600,000 in 2026.
Spiller receive an increase from $550,000 to $575,000 in 2025 and $600,000 in 2026.
On Jan. 14, Clemson officially hired new defensive coordinator Tom Allen to replace Wes Goodwin, who was let go by head coach Dabo Swinney. Clemson and Allen agreed to a three-year deal that will pay Allen $1.9 million this year and then will increase to $2 million for 2025-’26 and $2.1 million for 2026-’27. The deal also included a signing bonus and incentives.
The Compensation Committee is only required to approve contracts of $250,000 and above.
As for the new Football Support Staff Post-season Bonus Structure, the bonus changes are to reflect the expanded College Football Playoff structure and market compensations. The Football Bonus Plan was previously reviewed and approved in July 2024. This action simply extends that same structure to other Football staff members with contracts that require BOT Compensation Committee approval.
EXTENSION + INCREASE
Kyle Richardson, Tight Ends / Co-Offensive Coordinator
- Term: Add 1 year through 1/31/2027
- Total compensation: Increase from $600,000 to $637,500 (2025), $675,000 (2026)
- Buyout: Full guarantee with mitigation
- Bonus: standard bonus structure
Tyler Grisham, Wide Receivers Coach / Passing Game Coordinator
- Term: Add 1 year through 1/31/2027
- Total compensation: Increase from $550,000 to $575,000 (2025), $600,000 (2026)
- Buyout: Full guarantee with mitigation
- Bonus: standard bonus structure
CJ Spiller, Running Backs Coach / Run Game Coordinator
- Term: Add 1 year through 1/31/2027
- Total compensation: Increase from $550,000 to $575,000 (2025), $600,000 (2026)
- Buyout: Full guarantee with mitigation
- Bonus: standard bonus structure
Woody McCorvey, Football Chief of Staff
- Term: Add 1 year through 1/31/2027
- Total compensation: Increase from $500,000 to $525,000
- Buyout: Full guarantee with mitigation
- Bonus: Consistent standard bonus structure effective for 2024 season
Jordan Sorrells, Football General Manager
- Term: Add 1 year through 1/31/2027
- Total compensation: Increase from $315,000 to $390,000
- Buyout: Full guarantee with mitigation
- Bonus: Consistent standard bonus structure effective for 2024 season
Mike Dooley, Associate Athletic Director/Football Administration
- Term: Add 1 year through 1/31/2027
- Total compensation: Increase from $325,000 to $350,000
- Buyout: Full guarantee with mitigation
- Bonus: Consistent standard bonus structure effective for 2024 season
Jeff Davis, Director of Football Player Relations/External Affairs
- Term: Add 1 year through 1/31/2027
- Total compensation: Increase from $315,000 to $340,000
- Buyout: Full guarantee with mitigation
- Bonus: Consistent standard bonus structure effective for 2024 season
NEW HIRE
Kevin Kelly, Director of Player Acquisition
- Term: 2 years through 1/31/2027
- Total compensation: $360,000 annual
- Buyout: Full guarantee with mitigation
- Bonus: standard bonus structure
EXTENSION ONLY
Garrett Riley, Offensive Coordinator / Quarterbacks
- Term: Adding 1 year through 1/31/2028
- Total compensation: Currently $1,750,000
- Buyout: Full guarantee with mitigation
- Bonus: standard bonus structure
Matt Luke, Assistant Head Coach / Co-Offensive Coordinator / Offensive Line
- Term: Add 1 year through 1/31/2028
- Total compensation: $1,100,000 (‘25), $1,200,000 (‘26); adding $1,200,000 (2027)
- Buyout: Full guarantee with mitigation
- Bonus: standard bonus structure
Nick Eason, Associate Head Coach / Co-Defensive Coordinator / Defensive Tackles
- Term: Add 1 year through 1/31/2028
- Total compensation: $1,100,000 (‘25), $1,200,000 (‘26); adding $1,200,000 (2027)
- Buyout: Full guarantee with mitigation
- Bonus: standard bonus structure
Chris Rumph, Run Defense Coordinator / Defensive Ends Coach
- Term: Add 1 year through 1/31/2028
- Total compensation: $1,000,000 (‘25), $1,100,000 (‘26); adding $1,100,000 (2027)
- Buyout: Full guarantee with mitigation
- • Bonus: standard bonus structure
Joey Batson, Director of Football Strength & Conditioning
- Term: Add 1 year through 1/31/2027
- Total compensation: Currently $625,000
- Buyout: Full guarantee with mitigation
- Bonus: Consistent standard bonus structure effective for 2024 season
DJ Gordon, Director of Football Operations/Creative Media
- Term: Add 1 year through 1/31/2027
- Total compensation: Currently $270,000
- Buyout: Full guarantee with mitigation
- Bonus: Consistent standard bonus structure effective for 2024 season
Robbie Caldwell, Director of High School Relations & Player Development
- Term: Add 1 year through 1/31/2027
- Total compensation: Currently $250,000
- Buyout: Full guarantee with mitigation
- Bonus: Consistent standard bonus structure effective for 2024 season.
Danny Pearman, Director of Football Scouting
- Term: Add 1 year through 1/31/2027
- Total compensation: Currently $250,000
- Buyout: Full guarantee with mitigation
- Bonus: New standard bonus structure to be effective for 2024 season
BONUS ACTION
Football Support Staff Post-season Bonus Structure
- Bonus: changes to reflect expanded CFP structure and market comps
- Football Bonus Plan previously reviewed and approved in July 2024, this action simply extends that same structure to other Football staff members which contracts require BOT Compensation Committee approval, per policy