Return to Clemson giving alum a chance to grow as coach
When Brandon Streeter accepted Clemson’s quarterbacks coach position in December 2014, he didn’t do it just to be back at his alma mater.
The Tigers quarterback from 1997-99, who set or tied 11 school records, Streeter’s return to Death Valley was a professional decision.
“I definitely want to be a head football coach,” Streeter said. “I believe some day that time will come, but I’m so excited about being able to learn, being in a learning environment. That’s what this place is.”
A successful offensive coordinator at FCS program Richmond, Streeter has settled into being a position coach and recruiting coordinator after one full season at Clemson. Learning an entirely new offense, built by Streeter’s predecessor Chad Morris before he became the head coach at SMU, has been beneficial for the young coach. Working with star quarterback Deshaun Watson has enhanced Streeter’s exposure.
Coming off a 14-1 season when he coached the second runner-up to the Heisman Trophy, Streeter couldn’t be in a better place.
Streeter’s building relationships with coaches that will help down the road. He likes to soak up various philosophies. He had four different offensive coordinators in five years when he was a player at Clemson. Now he’s picking the brains of two OCs, Jeff Scott and Tony Elliott, while helping form a game plan each week during the season.
Recruiting has become a strength the past several seasons for Clemson. Since Streeter’s taken over that department, the Tigers have landed top-10 classes in 2015 and 2016.
“I’m super excited because this thing is continuing to move forward in a great way,” Streeter said. “My confidence level in this offense is unbelievable.”
Streeter said changing roles has helped him improve his coaching. Under Streeter, Richmond’s offense finished in the top 20 in passing three consecutive seasons. Before that, Streeter worked at Liberty for six seasons, three as the OC.
At Clemson, he doesn’t have as many game-prep duties, and he isn’t calling plays, so Streeter has improved his relationships with players.
“We became so close as a quarterback unit and I think that’s something I really wanted to work on,” Streeter said. “I’ve always been pretty close with my quarterbacks, but I think that’s really the key part of our success; the relationships we as coaches have with our players.”
Streeter has been good for Clemson. Morris served as the QB coach and coordinator from 2011-14, but now the Tiger quarterbacks have a coach dedicated to making them better.
“Just going from coordinating to being strictly a position coach, quarterback coach, I was excited about that opportunity,” Streeter said. “I had an opportunity, No. 1, to learn the offense and focus on the quarterbacks. When Chad was here, he had a lot going on. He’s developing the game plan as well as hands-on with quarterbacks. I was able to separate myself with some of that and be able to really be specific with the quarterbacks and detailed with the quarterbacks, which I was very excited about being. Obviously it helped to have Deshaun.”
When Streeter took the job, he didn’t have Watson, who was out after having knee surgery that same month. He also did very little during the spring, which gave Streeter the chance to work with other QBs and laying the foundation of his coaching style with younger players he’ll be charged with developing.
Watson doesn’t need a ton of schooling, Streeter admits, but the opportunity to work with a talented QB has taught Streeter a lot. And he said Watson is coachable.
“It’s been great to have him, to just have a new way to go about business than how coach Morris was,” said Watson, who last year became the first FBS quarterback to throw for 4,000 yards and rush for 1,000 in a single season. “It’s something I had to get used to, but it’s been good so far.”
This story was originally published July 27, 2016 at 11:38 AM with the headline "Return to Clemson giving alum a chance to grow as coach."