Clemson’s Tom Allen changes coaching locations for UNC game. Dabo explains why
During Clemson football’s bye week, defensive coordinator Tom Allen approached head coach Dabo Swinney with an idea.
With the Tigers sitting at 1-3 and 0-2 in the ACC, Allen said he wanted to make a change: Instead of coaching from the press box, he wanted to move to the field level and coach his unit from the sideline vs. UNC the following Saturday.
“I need to come down on the field and see if I can get this bunch rolling like they need to,” Allen said, according to Swinney.
And the shakeup worked — after Clemson’s star-studded defense fell short of expectations in its first four games, the unit was dominant against UNC in Saturday’s 38-10 victory at Kenan Stadium, which moved the Tigers to 2-3 (1-2 ACC).
With Allen coaching from the field, roaming all over the sideline and giving players chest bumps after big plays, Clemson’s defense limited UNC to 10 points (a season low for a Tigers opponent) and only three points in the first half.
After allowing a field goal on UNC’s opening drive, the Tigers defense forced four consecutive three-and-outs. The Tar Heels only scored on two of 12 possessions overall, and their touchdown came against a mix of second- and third-string defenders when the game was already well in hand in the fourth quarter.
After the game, Swinney addressed Allen’s move from the box to the field
“Y’all have asked a bunch of questions about that, “ Swinney said, laughing. “Look, I want these guys to do what (they do). I don’t make them do anything. I want them to do what they feel gives them the best chance to be successful. These ain’t rookie coaches, right? ... I’m not gonna micromanage that.”
Players were motivated by the move
Swinney and Allen have said multiple times this season that Allen’s preference is to coach from the press box coaches’ booth, where he has a bird’s-eye view of the field and immediate access to technology and play replays.
Allen, the former Indiana coach and Penn State defensive coordinator, moved from the field level to the coaches’ booth early in the Nittany Lions’ 2024 defense and had success working from up high the rest of that season.
But his decision to coach from the coaches’ box at Clemson has drawn plenty of interest. For one, Allen is a fiery, passionate coach who players describe as a great motivator. That seems like the type of person you’d want on your sideline.
Despite featuring talents like defensive tackle Peter Woods, defensive end T.J. Parker, cornerback Avieon Terrell and linebacker Sammy Brown, Clemson’s defense wasn’t playing up to its potential. The Tigers entered the weekend ranked No. 73 nationally in total defense, had been allowing too many chunk plays and wasn’t getting stops in key moments.
Allen was also the first Clemson defensive coordinator to coach from the press box full-time since Ellis Johnson in 1996, almost 30 years ago. Players said they enjoyed having Allen on the sideline vs. UNC.
“Any time you make a play in practice or in a game, Coach Allen, he’s one of the first ones to run up and celebrate with you and that’s something that we always feed off of,” sophomore cornerback Ashton Hampton said.
Swinney didn’t say if Allen would continue to coach from the field level this season and said Allen told Swinney he still prefers to coach from the press box level. But having Allen on the field made something click against UNC, he said.
“It was great,” Swinney said. “Ten points, four straight three-and-outs. ... It was (the right decision) for this game. I just thought the guys really prepared well.”
Next Clemson football game
Who: Clemson (2-3, 1-2 ACC) at Boston College (1-4, 0-3 ACC)
When: 7:30 p.m. Oct. 11
Where: Alumni Stadium in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts
TV: ACC Network
This story was originally published October 4, 2025 at 5:32 PM.
