Rich Bisaccia named special-teams coordinator for Clemson football

Former Packers assistant joins Tigers' coaching staff after brief stint in Green Bay

Published on Mar. 4, 2026

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Rich Bisaccia, who served as the special-teams coordinator for the Green Bay Packers over the past four seasons, has been hired to fill the same role on Clemson University's football coaching staff. Bisaccia previously coached at Clemson from 1994-1998 before moving to the NFL ranks.

Why it matters

Bisaccia is a highly respected special-teams coordinator who brings a wealth of experience to Clemson's program. His return to the college ranks, after a successful NFL career, is seen as a coup for the Tigers as they look to bounce back from a disappointing 7-6 season in 2025.

The details

Bisaccia, 65, will make $1 million next season at Clemson, a significant pay cut from the estimated $2 million he was set to make with the Packers. Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney said the program had been interested in bringing Bisaccia back for some time, and the recent rule changes allowing all coaches to be on the field created the opportunity for him to return to the college ranks.

  • Bisaccia coached at Clemson from 1994-1998.
  • Bisaccia joined the Packers' coaching staff in 2022 and served as their special-teams coordinator for the past four seasons.
  • Bisaccia announced his decision to leave the Packers in mid-February 2026.

The players

Rich Bisaccia

A veteran NFL coach who has been hired as the new special-teams coordinator for the Clemson football program.

Dabo Swinney

The head football coach at Clemson University, who expressed excitement about Bisaccia's return to the program.

Brian Gutekunst

The general manager of the Green Bay Packers, who said the organization was caught off guard by Bisaccia's decision to leave the team.

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What they’re saying

“I am really excited to have the opportunity to work with the young men in the Clemson football program and be part of a tremendous staff. After I made the decision to move in a new direction, coach [Dabo] Swinney approached me with the opportunity to come back to a place that holds special meaning for me and my family. I'm thrilled to be able to return to the Clemson community and serve this program in any way I can.”

— Rich Bisaccia (Clemson University)

“I've gotten to know him over the years, and we've actually talked a couple of different times about the possibility of him joining our staff. It just never really could work out from a timing standpoint or because the way the rules were set up in college. But with the changing of the rules to allow everybody to coach on the field and where he was in his career, he really wanted to finish here at Clemson. I'm super excited it worked out for us too, because this is as good a special teams coach as there has been in the NFL for a long, long time.”

— Dabo Swinney, Head Football Coach (Clemson University)

What’s next

Bisaccia will begin his new role with the Clemson football program immediately, as the team prepares for the upcoming 2026 season.

The takeaway

Bisaccia's return to Clemson represents a significant coup for the Tigers' coaching staff, as they bring in a highly respected special-teams coordinator with extensive NFL experience. This move could help Clemson bounce back from a disappointing 2025 season and reclaim its status as one of the top programs in college football.