Clemson's Swinney to earn $1.75 million

Dabo Swinney found out on Tuesday what a championship season can bring.

The Clemson coach got a one-year contract extension and a raise of $900,000 after leading his team to the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game in 2009. Swinney will earn $1.75 million next year more than double what he made a year ago and almost nine times his pay as an assistant.

``We were pleased with the performance of the Clemson football program under Dabo Swinney this past season and feel the new salaries reflect these accomplishments,'' Clemson athletic director Terry Don Phillips said.

The Tigers went 9-5 last season, losing the ACC title game to Georgia Tech before closing with a 21-13 victory over Kentucky in the Music City Bowl.

Phillips and senior associate athletic director Katie Hill briefed the financial compensation committee of the university's board of trustees on Monday's decision to approve the increases.

Swinney's original contract contained a clause that elevated his bottom-of-the-barrel salary to the median of all ACC coaches should Clemson win the division.

Swinney's nine assistants received raises totaling $495,000, bringing their aggregate pay to more than $2.3 million. The bulk of that went to second-year defensive coordinator Kevin Steele, who will earn $575,000, or $200,000 more than last year.

Steele was pursued by his alma mater, Tennessee, and new coach Derek Dooley before he decided to stay at Clemson.

Steele got a two-year extension along with a raise, tying him to the Tigers through 2013. The other seven assistants received one-year extensions, restoring their two-year agreements from last year.

Secondary coach and co-defensive coordinator Charlie Harbison will earn $325,000, an increase of $75,000. Offensive coordinator Billy Napier also got a $75,000 raise, boosting his salary to $275,000.

Defensive tackles coach Dan Brooks got a $30,000 raise to bring him to $210,000.

Tight ends coach Danny Pearman, running backs coach Andre Powell, defensive ends coach Chris Rumph and receivers coach Jeff Scott all got raises of $20,000.

Pearman will make $210,000, Powell and Rumph $180,000, and Scott $130,000.
Scott's father, offensive line coach Brad Scott starts his 12th season as a Tiger assistant with a $15,000 raise, bringing his salary to $220,000.

Phillips, the athletic director, said several assistants were pursued by other schools and he thought it was critical to maintain the continuity.

When Clemson won three straight ACC championships from 1986 to 1988, Phillips said, the Tigers had the same coaching staff throughout. Same at Florida State, Phillips said.

``We feel it is important to have continuity within the staff,'' Phillips said.