Clemson football assistants are turning down head coaching opportunities in the SEC
Who would have ever thought we would see the day where Clemson football assistants are turning down head coaching jobs in the SEC? That’s exactly where we’re at, though, as we enter the 2021 offseason.
Numerous teams have come calling for Clemson football Offensive Coordinator Tony Elliott and not one has prevailed, and it doesn’t seem that one will this time around.
Elliott turned down NFL teams wanting to interview him for Offensive Coordinator gigs and he eventually turned down Head Coaching opportunities at both Auburn and Tennessee.
Many Tennessee sources thought Elliott seemed like a done deal, but he eventually told them ‘no thanks’ after much consideration. While there’s still a thought that he might take the open UCF job- and it will certainly be his if he wants it- the overarching belief is that Elliott will stay put with Clemson football for another season.
Of course, he’s not the first Clemson football assistant to turn down an SEC offer
Defensive Coordinator Brent Venables has been sought-after on many occasions for open head coaching jobs over the past few years. Venables’ name was linked to the Auburn job (along with Elliott) back in December and he has turned away offers like Arkansas in the past.
Even after Yahoo Sports’ Pete Thamel reported earlier this fall that Venables was open to head coaching opportunities, he remained loyal to Clemson and didn’t even consider leaving.
The SEC is the conference where ‘it just means more,’ right? Well, it apparently doesn’t mean as much as Clemson.
No one would’ve thought a decade ago that there would be Clemson assistant coaches turning down major Power-5 job offers to stay in Tiger Town, but yet here we are.
Clemson has clearly proven to be a special place and that sentiment can be seen in how these assistants carefully pick their times to move on, or to stay.
It’s just another testament to the sincerity of Dabo Swinney and the commitment he has shown to building this Clemson football program.