Clemson Football: Is Dabo Swinney Being Paid His True Market Value

If any coach deserves to be compensated his true market value, it’s Dabo Swinney.

He does everything, and more, that is asked of him. He’s the consummate professional, an inspirational leader and builder of men for a life after football, as well as a very successful head coach. Simply put, he’s a winner and a champion, period.

In 2019, Swinney was given a 10-year contract worth over $93M. That made him, at that time, the highest paid college football head coach. How quickly the market changes. Today, ahead of Swinney is Lincoln Riley, Nick Saban, Brian Kelly, David Shaw, Mel Tucker, Jimbo Fisher and soon, Kirby Smart. What?

Look at those names and ask yourself, in what universe is Brian Kelly, at any school, more valuable than Swinney? How is Michigan State’s Mel Tucker compensated higher? What about USC’s wonder boy, Lincoln Riley? Astoundingly, how is Stanford coach David Shaw, based off his on the field success, worth half as much Swinney? You and your Labrador Retriever know the correct response, Swinney’s is worth more than all four of them.

None of those four higher compensated coaches have ever won a national championship. Swinney’s teams have been in more College Football Playoff games than all four combined.

He and the Tigers have four championship appearances and two national titles. Only Saban is worthy of more. Not even Smart is worthy of being compensated more than Swinney.

Swinney’s worth to Clemson University is unmeasurable. In reality, he is Clemson and deserves nothing less. If the past is any indicator, in the near future we can probably expect a shuffle in the top five coaches salaries and somewhere at or near the top will be Swinney, and every objective fan knows, he’s worth every dollar.