Clemson's Dabo Swinney Excited for Familiar Offense Under Chad Morris

Swinney compares return of Morris' offense to 'being back in America after living in Spain for three years'

Mar. 12, 2026 at 2:54am

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Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney is excited to welcome back Chad Morris as the team's new offensive coordinator, comparing it to 'being back in America after living in Spain for three years' after three seasons under a different offensive system.

Why it matters

Swinney's comments suggest the return of Morris' offense, which Clemson ran successfully from 2011-2014, will provide a familiar and comfortable system for the Tigers after a mixed tenure under the previous offensive coordinator.

The details

Morris previously served as Clemson's offensive coordinator from 2011-2014, during which the Tigers went 41-11 and won an ACC championship. He returns to the program after a three-year stint with the Air Raid offense under former OC Garrett Riley, which produced mixed results. Swinney noted the differences in terminology and concepts between the two systems, saying it will be 'fun' to get back to a familiar offense.

  • Clemson welcomed back Chad Morris as its offensive coordinator to begin the 2026 offseason.
  • Morris previously served as Clemson's OC from 2011-2014.

The players

Dabo Swinney

Clemson's head football coach.

Chad Morris

Clemson's new offensive coordinator, who previously held the same position from 2011-2014.

Garrett Riley

Clemson's former offensive coordinator who spent the last three seasons in that role.

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What they’re saying

“It's not new to me. It's like I'm back in America after living in Spain for three years. … It was fun to learn something different and all that. But, yeah, I'm living back in Pelham, Alabama, you know?”

— Dabo Swinney, Head Coach

“What do you call it? In the Air Raid, you call it '92' it's called mesh. It's called 618, some people call it 'Stick'. What do you call four verts in the Air Raid? It's 'Six'. For three years, because I kind of let all that go, but it was fun.”

— Dabo Swinney, Head Coach

What’s next

Swinney and the Tigers will look to get the offense back on track under Morris' familiar system as they prepare for the 2026 season.

The takeaway

Clemson's return to a more traditional offense under Chad Morris, who previously found success in the role, should provide stability and comfort for the Tigers after a mixed tenure under the previous coordinator's Air Raid system.