Clemson Football: Dabo Swinney named to Dodd Trophy preseason watchlist

Clemson Football head coach Dabo Swinney has been named to the preseason watchlist for the 2023 Dodd Trophy Presented by PNC Bank.

Twenty-one coaches have been placed on the watchlist. Other ACC coaches included are Mack Brown of North Carolina, Dave Doeran of NC State, Mike Norvell of Florida State and Dave Clawson of Wake Forest.

Other notable names include Nick Saban, Ryan Day, Jim Harbaugh and former Clemson defensive coordinator Brent Venables.

Notable names not on the watchlist include Brian Kelly, Lane Kiffin, Shane Beamer and Kirby Smart.

Tulane head coach Willie Fritz won the award last season. He is one of six previous winners on this season’s watchlist. The other five are Swinney, Saban, Brown, Kirk Ferentz and Kyle Whittingham.

About the Dodd Trophy

The Dodd Trophy is awarded annually to a head coach in the Football Bowl Subdivision whose teams demonstrate exemplary achievement on the field, in the classroom and in the community.

It is given by the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Foundation in conjunction with the Peach Bowl. The winner of the award is usually announced at halftime of the Peach Bowl game.

A prerequisite for being named to the preseason watchlist is that the coach’s team must have an APR of at least 980. Coaches in their first season with their current team are ineligible.

The foundation will revise the list later this fall by adding to it or eliminating names from it. A list of finalists will be released towards the end of the season.

How many Clemson Football coaches have ever won the Dodd Trophy?

Coach Swinney won the Dodd Trophy in 2011. It is the only time he won the award.

No other Clemson Football head coach has ever won the award.

The only coaches to have won the award twice are Bill Snyder of Kansas State and Joe Paterno of Penn State.

Watchlists for player awards will be released over the next few weeks.