Dabo Swinney hires former Clemson standout as new defensive line coach

Dabo Swinney is bringing former Clemson captain Nick Eason back home by hiring the Auburn defensive line coach as Todd Bates’ replacement.

Clemson was one of the few major programs not to make a coaching change after the 2021 season, but the staff was majorly impacted by the coaching carousel nonetheless.

With offensive coordinator Tony Elliot gone for Virginia and defensive coordinator Brent Venables leaving for Oklahoma, there has been a lot of new hiring to get done, especially because of assistants following those head coaches to their new destinations.

Venables took Todd Bates along with him, so Swinney has turned to Nick Eason to take over as defensive tackles coach.

Nick Eason is set to return as Clemson defensive tackles coach

Eason spent the 2021 season as Auburn’s defensive line coach. Before that, he was the defensive line coach for the Bengals and Titans for two years each.

He knows Clemson well as he played for the Tigers, making 35 starts before being drafted in 2003. He spent a decade in the NFL with the Broncos, Browns, Steelers and Cardinals before getting into coaching in 2013 as a defensive line assistant with the Browns.

Eason will have big shoes to fill as Bates was a respected coach. His experience as a college and pro player will be useful in recruiting and he’s already earned a reputation as an energetic force on the recruiting trail. He landed top JUCO defensive lineman Jeffrey M’ba for Auburn’s class of 2022 while also securing a commitment from four-star Alabama defensive lineman Caden Story.

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