Goodwin Finds His New Home
By: Robert MacRae January 31, 2025

Clemson’s former defensive coordinator has found his next coaching gig, and he’s heading to the SEC to join the staff of another former Tigers assistant.

Per multiple reports, Wes Goodwin is going to Oklahoma as a defensive analyst, and thus will be rejoining current Sooners head coach and former Clemson defensive coordinator Brent Venables.

Goodwin’s move doesn’t come as a surprise, as The Clemson Insider reported on Dec. 28 that through speaking with multiple sources, it sounded as if Goodwin could be heading to Oklahoma to reunite with Venables.

Prior to his three-year stint as Clemson’s DC (2022-24), Goodwin served in a critical off-field role for Venables as a defensive analyst for the Tigers from 2012-14 and as senior defensive assistant from 2018-21.

After officially announcing on Jan. 6 that Goodwin would not return as Clemson’s defensive coordinator, head coach Dabo Swinney openly admitted that in hindsight, the hiring of Goodwin three years ago might not have been the right decision.

“It just didn’t work and that is my fault,” Swinney said on Jan. 15. “It’s as simple as that. It’s not his fault. That’s my fault.”

At the same time, that didn’t stop Swinney from expressing his gratitude for the effort that Goodwin put in over his three years running the Tigers’ defense.

“I want to say, like I said in my statement, how much I love Wes Goodwin and his family,” Swinney added. “I am thankful for the job that he did. Unbelievable work ethic. Nobody worked harder than Wes.”

Of course, with Goodwin not returning, Swinney went out and hired Tom Allen – one of the most respected defensive coaches in the country – away from Penn State to fill that role.