Clemson offensive coordinator Garrett Riley won’t return in 2026

NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...

Clemson is heading into the offseason with major questions to answer, and those changes began late Monday night when head coach Dabo Swinney confirmed a reset on his coaching staff. Offensive coordinator Garrett Riley is out after three seasons with the program, and safeties coach Mickey Conn will also move on as Clemson looks to retool heading into 2026.

Swinney said the decision to part ways with Riley was one of the more difficult choices he has had to make, stressing that it came after long consideration and was rooted in performance rather than personal feelings.

“I have made the decision to make a change at offensive coordinator,” Swinney said in a statement. “This was a very difficult decision. These decisions are never easy, especially when you really love and care for the people that are involved, and I deeply love and care for Garrett Riley and his family. At the end of the day, we just did not get the production and the results that we needed, and I just feel like it is time for a change, and so we will be moving in a different direction with a new offensive coordinator.”

Riley arrived at Clemson with high expectations after winning the Broyles Award at TCU and helping guide the Horned Frogs to the national championship game. While there were stretches of promise, including a productive 2024 campaign that ended with an ACC title and a College Football Playoff appearance, the offense failed to sustain that momentum. In 2025, Clemson struggled to find consistency, particularly in high-leverage moments and against quality opponents.

Those issues were on full display in the Pinstripe Bowl loss to Penn State, where the Tigers were held to 10 points and managed just 236 total yards, including a stagnant second half. Clemson finished the season ranked near the middle of the ACC in most offensive categories, a far cry from the standard Swinney expects.

Despite the disappointing results, Swinney was clear in his praise of Riley and his belief in his future.

“I just want to thank Garrett for all that he did for us here at Clemson and leading us and helping us secure another ACC championship in 2024 and get us back to the College Football Playoff that year,” Swinney said. “I appreciate all of his efforts on behalf of our players and our program. Garrett is smart, he’s got great work ethic and he’s a great coach, but it just didn’t work like we both wanted. He’s got an amazing career ahead and he’ll be a great head coach in the future.”

The Tigers finished 7-6, marking the program’s first six-loss season since 2010, and the offensive struggles were a major factor in that outcome. Riley’s exit means Clemson will now be searching for its third offensive play caller in five seasons, continuing a stretch of turnover on that side of the ball.

On defense, Conn’s departure closes the door on a long run with the program. He joined the staff in 2016 and became one of Swinney’s most trusted assistants, coaching the safeties and playing a role in multiple championship seasons.

“We will also have a change with the leadership of our safeties with the departure of Mickey Conn,” Swinney said. “Coach Conn is someone that I’ve known since 1990 and he truly is family to me. He has done an amazing job here at Clemson. He’s been with us since 2016 — 10 years — and he’s been coaching the safeties since 2017 and coached a bunch of great safeties for us, including R.J. Mickens, who is a starting safety in the NFL as a rookie this year.”

Swinney added that Conn’s impact went far beyond wins and losses.

“I’m just so appreciative of Mickey and the great contribution that he’s made at Clemson over the last decade. I’m thankful for his family as well. I’m excited for upcoming opportunities he may have to go and call a defense and take the next step in his career. I’m forever grateful for Mickey and all the outstanding players he’s coached and all the memorable wins and championships we’ve earned together in the last decade.”

With both changes, Swinney emphasized that Clemson already has a vision moving forward.

“I am excited about the plan we have in place for our secondary and our defensive staff, and I am looking forward to identifying the right leader for our offense to help achieve our goals for 2026 and beyond.”

The moves signal a clear turning point for Clemson, as the program looks to reset key leadership roles and find the consistency that once defined its run among college football’s elite.

Contact us @Clemson_Wire on X (formerly known as Twitter), and like our page on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Clemson Tigers news and notes, plus opinions

This article originally appeared on Clemson Wire: Clemson OC Garrett Riley won’t return to the program in 2026

More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos