Clemson defensive tackles coach Dan Brooks to retire on top

Clemson assistant Dan Brooks, who was named the AFCA National Assistant Coach of the Year this season, is retiring, Tigers coach Dabo Swinney announced at Clemson’s national championship celebration on Saturday.

Swinney said the 65-year-old decided he wanted to go out on top and leave after Clemson’s national title.

“There has never been a coach that has been more committed or cares about his players more than Dan Brooks. Ever,” Swinney said. “Dan is 65 and decided he wants to retire and go out on top. I tried to talk him out of it, but this is what he wants to do. Dan Brooks, you deserve this brother. You deserve this.”

Brooks served as the associate head coach and defensive tackles coach for the Tigers. He has been at Clemson since 2009 after previously spending 15 seasons at Tennessee under Phillip Fulmer.

JUST NEED AN OPPORTUNITY

Tigers senior safety Jadar Johnson, of Orangeburg, said he believes he can make it in the NFL if he gets an opportunity.

Johnson had 61 tackles, a team-high five interceptions, seven pass breakups and two forced fumbles this season.

“I just want to get another chance. I don’t care how I get it,” he said. “If I get a chance, I’m going to get out there and work my butt off to try to make a team. As long as I get a chance, I’ll be fine.”

Johnson will train in the Upstate at TNT Sports. He said he doesn’t know what to expect going through the draft process.

“I’m just starting to talk to agents now. I wasn’t doing none of that during the season,” he said. “I’m really new to all of this, so I’ll see how that goes.”

WHAT IT TAKES TO WIN

Swinney noted that after the playoff pairings were announced, he knew that Clemson would have to beat Ohio State, and likely Alabama to win the national title.

The Tigers don’t stack up to those programs in some areas, but Swinney was confident his team had what it takes to win.

“They had bigger budgets, they had bigger stadiums, they had bigger alumni bases, they had more five stars, but that didn’t matter,” Swinney said. “When you love something and you love each other, you’ll do that little extra that last play, that last game. … That’s what this team is about.”

REALITY CHECK

Clemson senior center Jay Guillermo said it didn’t set in the Tigers were national champions until the morning after the game, before the team headed home.

“I was sitting in my room by myself packing up and I don’t know why, but just a huge rush of emotion came over me and it kind of sunk in that we won,” he said.

This story was originally published January 14, 2017 at 2:01 PM with the headline "Clemson defensive tackles coach Dan Brooks to retire on top."