Wes Goodwin seems to be settling into his new role on Brent Venables’ staff at Oklahoma.

The former Clemson defensive coordinator is now an assistant linebackers coach on Venables’ staff.

After Venables left Clemson following the 2021 season, Goodwin thought he might follow the Sooners’ new head coach to Norman. That is, until Dabo Swinney offered him the opportunity to step into the role that Venables was vacating.

“I never knew how it would all shake out,” Goodwin said in a recent meeting with the media. “If I hadn’t gotten the opportunity at Clemson to be the coordinator, most definitely, I would have loved to have joined (Venables) here. 

“So it worked out for me to take over at Clemson, and now it’s worked out for me to join the program here. I can’t tell you how excited and fired up I am to be here.”

Goodwin spent three years serving as the Tigers’ defensive coordinator. Over the first two years, Goodwin’s defenses helped Clemson win numerous games. However, last year, the Tigers didn’t come close to living up to expectations on that side of the ball.

Clemson had trouble stopping the run in 2024, allowing more than 160 rushing yards per game. It was the program’s worst run defense since 2011 in terms of yards per game, the year before Venables’ arrival. The defense, in terms of yards per carry, had its worse showing since 1975. After Texas gashed the Tigers for 292 yards on the ground in the opening round of the College Football Playoff, Swinney decided it was time to make a change.

Despite the struggles of his final season at Clemson, Goodwin has no regrets.

“We had some really cool moments, winning two ACC championships out of the three years and going to the College Football Playoff this year and the Orange Bowl in my first year,” Goodwin said. “You live your life under a microscope in those types of positions, and you’ve always got to be true to yourself and be who you are. 

“It’s already hard enough being yourself, don’t try to be someone else. That’s the biggest thing, blocking out the outside noise and just focusing on the task at hand.”

Now Goodwin is reunited with Venables. He’s also working with Todd Bates and Miguel Chavis again, two coaches he also worked alongside at Clemson.

“It’s been really cool to see him as a head coach,” Goodwin said. “Obviously, to see him in our room as a defense coordinator every day. I’ve really got a lot of respect for our defensive staff, most of them I worked with at Clemson. Brandon Hall (Sooners’ safeties coach) and I have been really close friends for a long time as well. Every day is a new challenge. I’ve grown tremendously in the two months that I’ve been here, just from fundamental football to scheme.”