It’s official: Robbie Caldwell retiring as Clemson’s offensive line coach
Robbie Caldwell is officially retiring as Clemson’s offensive line coach, Dabo Swinney announced Wednesday night after the team’s Cheez-It Bowl win over Iowa State.
Caldwell will remain with the program and transition into an off-field role working with high school relations, sophomore transition and some scouting.
“He and I talked about this last year,” Swinney said. “He really wanted to go one more year. I’m so thankful that he did because there ain’t many people that could’ve handled what we had to handle on that offensive line this year. It took a dang salty, savvy veteran like Robbie Cadlwell to be able to hold it together the way we did this year with such chaos upfront. I love him, he and his wife, Nora.”
The move has been expected. Players rewarded Caldwell with a Gatorade bath after Wednesday’s win.
Caldwell entered 2021 with 43 years of experience in college coaching, and he has been with Clemson since the 2011 season. He served as Vanderbilt’s head coach in 2010 after eight years as offensive line coach for the Commodores.
Offensive analyst and former Tigers offensive lineman Thomas Austin will be promoted to be Clemson’s new offensive line coach, Swinney said. Tyrone Crowder, another former Clemson offensive lineman, will take Austin’s place as an offensive analyst after one year as an offensive graduate assistant. Brandon Thomas, a former Jacksonville Jaguars player and Clemson alum, is coming in as an offensive line graduate assistant to keep the Clemson player-turned-coach pipeline going.
“It’s going to be a great transition,” Swinney said. “I’m super excited. We knew this was going to happen. That’s why I went and got Thomas last year from Georgia State and brought him in so we can have a smooth transition.”
Clemson coaching staff changes
- Departures: defensive coordinator Brent Venables to Oklahoma as head coach; offensive coordinator Tony Elliott to Virginia head coach.
- Retirement: Robbie Caldwell, offensive line
- Promotions: Clemson quarterbacks coach Brandon Streeter named offensive coordinator; defensive analyst Wes Goodwin promoted to defensive coordinator; safeties coach Mickey Conn now co-defensive coordinator. ... Defensive line coach Todd Bates received a promotion to assistant head coach. Cornerbacks coach Mike Reed added special teams coordinator role. Kyle Richardson, who was the Tigers’ special assistant to the offense and director of high school relations, was promoted to an on-field role to coach the tight ends. ... Offensive analyst Thomas Austin to be promoted to offensive line coach.
This story was originally published December 29, 2021 at 11:05 PM.
