CLEMSON – Neglecting the little details may have been one of Clemson’s main killers last season, and in years past to be honest.

The Tigers, finishing 7-6 in 2025, lost three one-possession games in their worst season since 2010. Head coach Dabo Swinney frequently said after some of those tight losses–defeats at the hands of LSU, Georgia Tech and Duke–that the Tigers were just a few plays away from having a different year.

Clemson clearly struggled with an offense that took a clear step back from a prolific 2024 campaign, and with a secondary that gave up frequent busts to kill momentum on defense. They suffered from veteran players not having the seasons expected and a diminished run game.

But another hindrance came from the phase of the game that many forget — the one that decides where each team begins their drives, if a touchdown is worth six or seven points, and is paramount in close games.

In 2025, Clemson had a special teams problem.

The Tigers finished sixth in field goal percentage in the ACC, 14th in average punt yards, eighth in kickoff returns and 14th in punt returns, all below the standard of a team fresh off of a conference championship. 

Some of these struggles were not new, as Clemson also ranked outside of the top eight in returns the year prior and kicker Nolan Hauser actually improved his percentage in 2025 from being ranked 12th in 2024 as a freshman.

On the opposite side, in a baffling comparison, Clemson’s 2025 team ranked first in the conference in punt return yards allowed, but dead last in kickoff returns, giving up an average of 28.73 yards per attempt. The Tigers were one of only two ACC teams to give up a touchdown on a kickoff return.

This offseason, Swinney was in a change-forward state of mind after a disappointing 22-10 loss to Penn State in the Pinstripe Bowl that ended a turbulent year. He hired Chad Morris as offensive coordinator and promoted Thomas Allen to defensive passing game coordinator.

The Tigers’ longtime leader also brought in 12 transfer portal players, a program record.

In the spirit of change, and probably with some frustrations, Swinney also brought in a special teams coordinator to mend some of the woes from the last few seasons. And he picked the best one he could find — former NFL special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia.

Swinney announced in early March that Bisaccia, a 24-year special teams coordinator at the professional level, would be joining the program. Bisaccia formerly coached Clemson’s running backs and special teams for a five-year stint in the 1990s, under former coach Tommy West.

On just his first day, Bisaccia was seen bringing the intensity in a spring practice, huddling down close to players through reps and spouting wisdom. Just at a first glance, onlookers could tell that Bisaccia was focused on details, and in 2026, Clemson needs to be incredibly detail oriented, especially on special teams, to bounce back from last year.