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Clemson Hires Rich Bisaccia as $1 Million Special Teams Coordinator
Longtime NFL special teams coach Rich Bisaccia joins Clemson's staff with a lucrative one-year deal.
Published on Mar. 4, 2026
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Clemson's Board of Trustees has approved a one-year, $1 million contract for Rich Bisaccia to serve as the team's new special teams coordinator. Bisaccia, a longtime NFL special teams coach, previously worked at Clemson in the 1990s under former head coach Tommy West. He is replacing Will Gilchrist, who made $170,000 annually in the same role over the past two seasons.
Why it matters
Clemson's special teams unit has struggled in recent years, including issues with field goal kicking, kickoff coverage, and punt protection. The high-profile hire of Bisaccia, who has over 20 years of NFL experience, signals that head coach Dabo Swinney is prioritizing improving this critical phase of the game after several costly special teams mistakes contributed to losses in 2023 and 2024.
The details
Bisaccia's contract includes a base salary and supplemental compensation totaling $900,000, plus a $100,000 bonus he will receive this summer. This represents a significant increase from the $170,000 annual salary that previous special teams coordinator Will Gilchrist had been earning. Bisaccia, who is 65 years old, previously worked at Clemson in the 1990s and has been an NFL special teams coach since 2002, including a stint as interim head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders in 2021.
- Clemson's Board of Trustees approved Bisaccia's one-year, $1 million contract on March 4, 2026.
- Bisaccia officially stepped down from his role as assistant head coach and special teams coordinator for the Green Bay Packers in mid-February 2026.
The players
Rich Bisaccia
A 65-year-old veteran NFL special teams coach who previously worked at Clemson in the 1990s. He has over 20 years of experience coaching special teams in the NFL, including a stint as interim head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders in 2021.
Dabo Swinney
The head football coach at Clemson University, who is making the high-profile hire of Bisaccia to improve the team's special teams unit after several costly mistakes in recent seasons.
Will Gilchrist
The previous special teams coordinator at Clemson, who made $170,000 annually over the past two seasons before leaving the program.
John Grass
The new special teams coordinator at Samford University, who previously worked on Clemson's staff.
Shane Beamer
The head football coach at the University of South Carolina, who reportedly pursued Bisaccia for the same role but was unsuccessful.
What’s next
Bisaccia will begin his new role at Clemson immediately, with the goal of shoring up the team's special teams units ahead of the 2026 season.
The takeaway
Clemson's significant investment in Bisaccia as a high-profile special teams coordinator underscores the importance of this phase of the game to head coach Dabo Swinney, who is looking to address the team's recent struggles in areas like field goal kicking, kickoff coverage, and punt protection.
