Clemson moves CJ Spiller to on-field coaching role as Dabo Swinney shuffles staff
Clemson coach Dabo Swinney is shuffling his staff, The State confirmed Friday, with tight ends coach and special teams coordinator Danny Pearman set to move into an off-field role at Clemson.
With the opening, former Tigers star C.J. Spiller will now coach running backs after serving as an unpaid grad intern during the 2020 season. Spiller’s hire is expected to be officially approved at a board of trustees meeting Feb. 4. Spiller served as Clemson’s running backs coach for the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 1 after offensive coordinator Tony Elliott tested positive for COVID-19 leading up to the game.
Elliott will take over the tight ends position. He previously coached running backs, in addition to his role as the OC.
The plan is for Pearman to move into a scouting role. That will include self-scouting, as well as transfer portal evaluations. Swinney had been against accepting transfers, but it appears that his stance on that is now changing.
Pearman has been on staff at Clemson since December 2008. In addition to coaching tight ends and special teams, he also was the assistant head coach. He has been on staff for each of Clemson’s past six ACC titles, and he was a part of the coaching staff that led Clemson to national titles in 2016 and 2018.
Pearman is the coach who admitted this spring to using the n-word in a practice in 2017. He issued a statement of apology this summer, calling his remarks to former Tigers tight end D.J. Greenlee a “grave mistake.”
“It was wrong when I said it, and it is wrong today,” Pearman said in his statement.
Spiller played at Clemson from 2006-09. He was named an All-American in football and track during his time as an athlete with the Tigers. His No. 28 number is retired.
The Florida native rushed for 3,547 yards during his four seasons, while averaging nearly 6 yards per carry for his career. He gained an ACC-record 7,588 all-purpose yards and finished his career with 51 total touchdowns.
Elliott has been at Clemson since 2011. He started working for the Tigers as the running backs coach, before being promoted to offensive coordinator in December of 2014.
This story was originally published January 15, 2021 at 3:18 PM.
