Dabo Swinney, head coach of the Clemson Tigers, is shockingly honest about possibly returning to his alma mater to coach one day: The University of Alabama
Dabo Swinney’s Clemson Tigers are currently the number one ranked team in the College Football Playoff. What Swinney has done at Clemson is take a great football program and turn them into a national powerhouse. However, when asked if he would entertain possibly returning to his alma mater, The University of Alabama, Swinney didn’t exactly write off the long-shot coaching gig.
Swinney told CBS Sports’ Jon Solomon he wouldn’t rule out coaching at the place he once played wide receiver and was an assistant for seven years. Dabo Swinney said, “You don’t ever say never. You don’t ever know what the circumstances would be at any given time. First of all, Alabama may never, ever call me, and I would never have a problem with that. They’ve got to do what they’ve got to do. My deal is to be great where I’m at. I had opportunities to leave Alabama. I had opportunities to leave Clemson. But I’ve just never been that guy about the next job. I’m about the job I’ve got.”
Too often do head coaches immediately dispel rumors or possibilities about them leaving their current jobs. Not that Dabo Swinney would want to leave the fantastic program he’s built at Clemson, but at least he’s honest about it. Many college coaches would love the opportunity to one day lead their alma mater on Fall Saturdays. Being that Swinney’s alma mater is The University of Alabama, it’s only natural.
Though he could recruit a bit more nationally at Alabama than at Clemson, perhaps it’s more important to have an easier path to the College Football Playoff than anything. The winner of Clemson-Florida State is usually the team to beat not only in the Atlantic Division, but in the entire ACC.
Obviously for the head coaching position to become available in Tuscaloosa, head coach Nick Saban would have to leave. Replacing a legend like Saban is near impossible, but should he ever leave, expect Dabo Swinney’s name to make the short list for the next head coach of the Alabama Crimson Tide. Even if these compounding circumstances come to fruition, would Swinney even want to leave Clemson? That’s the bigger question.