There are two types of head coaches who can win national championships in this day and age of college football. You either need to be a relentless recruiter who favors the defensive side of the ball, or develop into being the ultimate CEO type. Having better players to go blow things up on defense usually works, just like having a head coach become the face of a program who trusts his assistants.
Since Dabo Swinney cut his teeth as a former wide receivers coach, he quickly became the CEO-type Clemson needed. He was not a play-caller, but that did not stop him. Urban Meyer was not a great play-caller either, but that never held him back. What served both of them and many other coaches cut from this cloth was that they continually put their trust and faith into their high-end coordinators.
For Clemson, the Tigers have a trio of former Power Four head coaches on Swinney's staff, two of whom are coordinators. Tom Allen is in year two at Clemson, leading the defense, while Chad Morris is back calling the shots on offense. Having another former head coach on staff in Matt Luke helping develop the offensive line is a massive plus. It helps Swinney see things from different perspectives.
In short, he can lean on Allen, Luke, and Morris more easily because they have been in his role before.
Clemson has more of a coaching advantage than media will give credit for
This may be more important in the NFL, but it does matter a lot in college. Teams that have a pair of great coordinators can usually overcome the road bumps they might experience on their schedule, especially in the playoffs. Look no further than the dynamic duo of Bryant Haines and Mike Shanahan on Curt Cignetti's Indiana staff. He is so beyond blessed to have had them for as long as he has at IU.
While Allen may get another crack at being a college head coach, Morris never will because of how bad things got for him at Arkansas. Luke was in a weird spot taking over at his alma mater after Hugh Freeze was let go for scandalous reasons. He was not elite at being a head coach, but he was as good as Allen was on his best day at Indiana. Regardless, Swinney can keep learning from all three of them.
When the metaphorical bullets start flying this season, Swinney needs to trust his staff in moments of crisis. The teams that do this win closer games more regularly than others. It may be Morris' first year back at Clemson, but he was an incredible play-caller several seasons ago with the Tigers before SMU came calling. It just goes to show that some people are meant to be coordinators above all else.
Most importantly, you are never in a bad spot as a program when you have assistants on your staff who are honestly overqualified for what they are doing. Allen is going to lead another program again. While Morris never will, maybe Luke could surprise everyone with his next big job? In the end, this will all add up to make a big difference. Clemson needs to figure out how to close better, but this matters.
Right now, Clemson having a largely overqualified staff may be the biggest reason to believe in them.
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