CLEMSON – If you looked at Clemson’s sideline from the years of 2011-14, you would see head coach Dabo Swinney at the helm. Most likely, you could spot offensive coordinator Chad Morris right at his side.

Morris became a fixture on Clemson’s sideline, known for the in-game energy he often credited to Red Bull beverages and fruit loop cereal.

After his success at Clemson, Morris went on to lead multiple teams of his own, including stints at SMU and Arkansas, as well as a period as Auburn’s offensive coordinator. Through it all, he remained on the sideline, opting not to call plays from the box.

“They’ve got to sense my urgency,” Morris said of his custom. “I want them to see me.”

Entering the 2026 season, Morris’ first year back at Clemson after 12 years, he planned on picking up right where he left off, alongside Swinney down on the field. 

“I think it’s extremely important for me and where we are right now in our program for them to sense my urgency and also to sense my ability when things aren’t going well to maybe calm them down and bring a little bit more of a peace to them. Not just the quarterbacks. I’m talking about the whole offense. I mean, I think they have to feel my strain and my passion at every position.” 

So Morris started the year on the field, seeing Clemson’s 41-point loss to LSU at Tiger Stadium up close and personal. He stayed down there for the Tigers’ 22-7 win over Georgia Southern one week later. 

Even though the Tigers defeated a Group of 6 opponent in that game and got in the win column, something still needed to change. Clemson punted seven times and turned the ball over twice in the sloppy victory, only entering the end zone one time.

After the game and as ACC-play crept up, Clemson coaches knew something needed to change, and freshman quarterback Tait Reynolds needed less chaos down on the sideline in order to thrive.

In turn, Morris headed to the coaches box for the Tigers’ game against North Carolina.

That afternoon, Clemson got a 28-20 victory and recorded over 400 yards of offense, a first in the young season by far with Morris getting a birds-eye-view. 

“We talked about that this week,” Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney said after the game. “Obviously, we struggled the first couple games and with the green dot (on the quarterback) and just down there (on the sideline) it’s chaos down there and he’s got like boards and all kind of stuff.

“He’s got a lot going on and I just felt like he probably should go up and just kind of get out of the chaos where he can really sit down and spread out and really (communicate), starting with Tait.”

After that success, Morris stayed up in the box with several assistant coaches for the Tigers’ next ACC-game, a contest against California on the west coast. This time, Clemson bested their rushing mark for the season, notching 255 yards on the ground.

Just like that, the Tigers are 2-0 since his move upstairs.

“It’s been good,” Swinney said after the Cal win. “I think it’s allowed him to just kind of get out of the chaos, get out of play a little bit, and kind of spread out and get to talk with the quarterback, both of them too. Just really not having to hold a bunch of stuff and all that, and just kind of sit and and work. So it’s been good.”

Before Morris, former offensive coordinator Garrett Riley ran Clemson’s offense from the sideline for three seasons. Before him, Brandon Streeter called Clemson’s plays from the box, as did current Virginia head coach Tony Elliott when he was the Tigers’ OC for seven seasons. 

Additionally, with in-ear communication implemented since Morris last called plays, the current structure is a first for him as well.

So far, it has been a success for the Tigers’ offense, but they will have maybe their biggest test this weekend, when No. 4 Miami will come to town to take on Clemson at Memorial Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m.