Former Tiger Has New College Football Coaching Job
By: Staff Report February 4, 2025

A former Clemson standout player, and former member of the Tigers’ coaching staff, has a new coaching gig.

Xavier Dye has joined the University of Delaware football team’s coaching staff.

On Monday, the University of Delaware announced the addition of Dye as the program’s running backs coach.

Dye spent the past two seasons (2023-24) as Coastal Carolina’s running backs coach. He has also previously held college coaching positions at Western Carolina (2013), West Virginia (2019) and USF (2020-22), along with Clemson.

Dye, a wide receiver at Clemson (2007-10), served as an offensive graduate assistant coach working with the receiving corps for two years at Clemson (2017-18). The Tigers posted a 27-2 record, won two ACC championships, made two College Football Playoff appearances and won the 2018 CFP national championship during that time.

The following is the news release from the University of Delaware on Dye joining the program’s coaching staff:

University of Delaware Head Football Coach Ryan Carty has announced the addition of Xavier Dye to the team’s coaching staff. Dye, who brings six years of FBS coaching experience, will coach UD’s running backs.

“I am very excited to welcome Xavier and his family to Newark,” Carty said. “Xavier brings FBS experience as both a player and a coach that will make him a valuable asset to our program as we transition into our new era of Delaware football. His expertise will be a great addition to our offensive staff. We can’t wait to get him in the running back room to continue to Level Up.”

Dye joins the Blue Hens after spending the 2023-24 seasons as the running backs coach at Coastal Carolina. In 2024, running backs Braydon Bennett and Christian Washington combined for 1,318 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns, while Bennett earned All-Sun Belt Honorable Mention honors. In his first season, the Chanticleer running backs averaged 100 yards rushing per game and ran for 12 touchdowns, led by Bennett’s 407 yards and five scores. Coastal Carolina went 14-12 in his two seasons, including winning the 2023 EasyPost Hawai’i Bowl.

Prior to Coastal, Dye spent three years on staff at South Florida from 2020-22, where he coached the wide receivers in 2020 and the tight ends group in 2021-22. He also served as the recruiting coordinator for his last two seasons in Tampa.

In 2022, Dye’s tight ends contributed to major improvements in USF’s offense from 2021, seeing increases in total offense (+39.9 ypg), rushing offense (+39.4 ypg), scoring offense (+4.8 ppg), third down conversions (+4.8 percent), red zone conversions (+8.4 percent), pass efficiency (+22.66), and passing touchdowns (+12).

He went to USF after serving as the wide receivers coach at West Virginia during the 2019 season. Sam James ranked fifth in the Big 12 with 69 receptions, and George Campbell was among the conference leaders with seven receiving touchdowns.

A native of Greenwood, S.C., Dye served as an offensive graduate assistant coach working with the receiving corps for two years at Clemson from 2017-18, which included future NFL wideouts Tee Higgins, Justyn Ross and Hunter Renfrow. Over those two years, the Tigers posted a 27-2 record, won two ACC championships, and made two College Football Playoff appearances, including winning the 2018 College Football Playoff National Championship.

In 2018, the Tigers led the ACC in scoring (44.3 ppg) and total offense (527.2 ypg), ranking No. 4 and No. 3 in the nation, respectively. Clemson was also second in the ACC in rushing offense (248.2 ypg, No. 10 nationally) and third in passing offense (279.0 ypg, No. 23 nationally). Higgins led the league and ranked No. 8 nationally in receiving touchdowns (12) and was No. 6 in the ACC in receiving yards and No. 11 in receptions per game. Ross finished second in the ACC in receiving touchdowns and No. 5 in receiving yards.

Higgins and Renfrow were named to the ACC All-Conference second team, while Renfrow was selected for the Burlsworth Trophy (top player who began their career as a walk-on) and the Bowden Award (dedicated to faith, family, friends, and football). Ross was named a Freshman All-American.

In 2017, Clemson had a balanced offensive attack, averaging 194.1 rushing yards per game (No. 35 nationally) and 429.6 yards of total offense (No. 38). The Tigers were No. 32 in scoring offense (33.3), No. 7 in third-down conversion percentage (.463), and No. 17 in first-down offense. Renfrow ranked No. 10 in the ACC in receptions per game, and wide receiver Deon Cain was No. 8 in receiving yards. The duo was named to the ACC All-Conference third team.

Prior to his return to Clemson, Dye served as offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach at Woodmont High School, helping lead the Wildcats to an appearance in the 2016 South Carolina 5A playoffs. He also spent two years at Greenville High School, serving the first year in 2014 as the wide receivers coach before adding offensive coordinator duties in 2015.

Dye began his coaching career in 2013 at Western Carolina as a defensive quality control coach and an academic counselor.

A dean’s list student at Clemson, Dye played wide receiver for the Tigers from 2007-10 and earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology. A two-year starter (2009-10), he had a receiving touchdown from a quarterback (Kyle Parker), wide receiver (Jacoby Ford), and running back (C.J. Spiller) in 2009, becoming the first Tiger with a receiving touchdown from three different players in the same year, from three different positions.

While a student-athlete at Clemson, Dye was active in community service events and earned on spot on the American Football Coaches Association’s (AFCA) Allstate Good Works Team as well as being named a finalist for the John Wooden Award. He was selected for the FCA Spiritual Award and served as a keynote speaker at numerous functions.

Dye and his wife Kelsye have two daughters, Xara and Xendaya.

“I am very thankful for Coach Carty and his trust in me to lead the running backs room,” Dye said. “I am fired up to get started and helping the program win at a high level on the field and in the classroom.”