Clemson DC Wes Goodwin, DL coach Nick Eason earn big pay bumps

CLEMSON — Defensive coordinator Wes Goodwin’s raise to $1.4 million for next season headlines salary increases for Clemson’s football assistants.

Goodwin, who just completed his second year as the Tigers’ coordinator and linebackers coach after serving Brent Venables in behind-the-scenes roles prior to December 2021, made $850,000 last season. The 39-year-old was a nominee for the Broyles Award, which goes to college football’s top assistant coach, in 2023.

Goodwin’s salary will hit $1.5 million in 2025 and $1.6 million in 2026.

The compensation committee for Clemson’s board of trustees also approved a raise for defensive tackles coach and run game coordinator Nick Eason for a second consecutive year. Following last year’s $50,000 bump to $800,000, Eason has jumped all the way up to $1.1 million for the coming season, topping out at $1.2 million in his contract’s third and final year.

Meanwhile, cornerbacks coach Mike Reed and safeties coach Mickey Conn both saw their salaries increase from $800,000 to $900,000. Conn and Reed’s pay will reach $1 million apiece in the third year of their contracts, which means every member of Clemson’s defensive staff will make $1 million or more in 2026.

These salary increases bring members of the coaching staff closer in pay range to Clemson’s recent big-money hires. In December, newly hired offensive line coach Matt Luke and defensive ends coach Chris Rumph commanded three-year deals totaling, respectively, nearly $3.3 million and $3.1 million.

Clemson shelled out $1.75 million per year for offensive coordinator Garrett Riley in late 2022. While some offensive staffers received pay bumps at Friday’s meeting, including $100,000 raises for tight ends coach and passing game coordinator Kyle Richardson (to $600,000), receivers coach and recruiting coordinator Tyler Grisham (to $550,000) and running backs coach C.J. Spiller (to $550,000), Riley did not see his salary increase for next season.

Eason, who came to Clemson with NFL experience, like Rumph, will now be paid like his D-line counterpart. He is also being rewarded for his continued success on the recruiting trail, garnering commitments from four-star 2025 prospects Amare Adams and Isaiah Campbell in recent months after helping the Tigers reel in blue-chip prospects like Peter Woods and Vic Burley in 2024.

The Clemson alum Eason has also added the title of associate head coach ahead of the 2024 season.

Goodwin’s defense was, by far, the most consistent of Clemson’s units during the 2023 campaign. The Tigers allowed just over 21 points per game despite frequent turnovers by the offense.

In fact, Clemson was able to win a game, 16-7, over rival South Carolina in late November without scoring an offensive touchdown.

The defense steadied things during a 9-4 season by finishing first nationally in defensive touchdowns (five), second in first downs allowed (185), fifth in fumbles recovered (12), and tying for 10th in interceptions (16).

Clemson also boasted the 22nd-ranked rush defense (114.6 ypg) and the nation’s No. 8 pass defense (173.2 ypg), the latter offering a stark contrast from the Tigers’ No. 76 ranking (231.7 ypg) versus the pass in 2022.

Goodwin’s success has paid off Swinney’s gamble in 2021 when he promoted a staffer who had never coached a position group or called plays prior to his promotion. When he was appointed that December, Goodwin’s salary increased from $160,000 to $850,000, which was a bump of $690,000.

This raise to $1.4 million is nearly as much, offering an increase of $550,000.