Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney announced Brandon Streeter has been fired from his position as the team’s offensive coordinator, Thursday. There are multiple reports that Swinney will aim to replace Streeter with TCU’s Garrett Riley. Riley, the younger brother of Southern Cal head coach Lincoln Riley, helped lead the Horned Frogs (13-2) to 38.8 points and 455 yards per game.
Swinney said, “I am incredibly appreciative of Brandon for all he accomplished at Clemson in his 15 years as a player, graduate assistant, position coach and offensive coordinator. I am thankful for Brandon and love him and his family. He has always represented Clemson University with great pride, and I know he will continue to do great things.”
The former Tigers quarterback (1996-99) served just one full season as the Clemson offensive coordinator, but his history with the program and Swinney goes back much further. After a two-year stint as an offensive assistant at Charleston Southern, Streeter joined Tommy Bowden’s staff as a graduate assistant in 2004. Swinney was on the staff as the wide receivers coach at the time.
After working as an offensive coordinator at Liberty and Richmond, Streeter rejoined Clemson’s staff as the quarterbacks coach in time for the 2014 Russell Athletic Bowl. Streeter also served as the recruiting coordinator until 2019. Streeter was elevated to the offensive coordinator position following the departure of Tony Elliott after the 2021 regular season.
Swinney continued, “As the leader of this program, I am accountable for our staff and accountable for our results, and though we took a step forward offensively in 2022, after evaluating our offense in-depth, I felt it was in the best interest of our program to seek new leadership at that position. These decisions are never easy, but it is my job to evaluate and assess every part of our program every year, and this was just the right time to make a change. “I look forward to bringing in a dynamic, proven leader at offensive coordinator with the specific purpose of meeting — and raising — the standard of excellence that has been established at Clemson. I passionately believe in our staff and in the young men in our program and am excited about the opportunity to see them grow even more in 2023.”
Clemson’s offense was criticized for its inconsistency during Streeter’s lone season as coordinator. Quarterback D.J. Uiagalelei and the receiving corps struggled to find a rhythm and a deep passing attack failed to materialize. Uiagalelei was eventually replaced by freshman Cade Klubnik during the ACC Championship game. In Klubnik’s first start, the offense posted 484 yards on 101 total plays, but sputtered in the red zone, resulting in a 31-14 Orange Bowl loss to Tennessee.
As September drew to a close, the Tigers offense looked to be on track with 521 yards against La. Tech and 559 yards against Wake Forest. But the unit was less explosive in the following weeks, culminating in a 281-yard performance in a 35-14 loss at Notre Dame. After putting up 371 yards passing against the Demon Deacons, Clemson averaged just 189.5 yards through the air over the next eight games.
