Why did Dabo Swinney fire Mickey Conn after 10 seasons on Clemson football staff?

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CLEMSON — Clemson football shook up its staff on Dec. 29 after firing offensive coordinator Garrett Riley and defensive passing game coordinator/safeties coach Mickey Conn.

These changes came after Clemson (7-6) had its second-worst season in Dabo Swinney’s full 17 seasons, and the Tigers missed the ACC championship and College Football Playoff despite being preseason favorites to make both.

Riley was an anticipated change after the disappointing season, but Conn was the only non-coordinator assistant to be fired. This marked Swinney’s third time since 2011 that he fired a position coach.

“We will also have a change with the leadership of our safeties with the departure of Mickey Conn,” Swinney said in a school release. “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.”

Other position groups had their issues, but safety was a glaring one. R.J. Mickens departed after exhausting his eligibility, and Clemson didn’t add a safety in the transfer portal. This forced the Tigers to rely on wide receiver-turned defensive back Ronan Hanafin, sophomore Ricardo Jones and junior Khalil Barnes, who dealt with early season injuries.

This led to coverage busts and miscommunication, including in losses to SMU and Duke. These miscues reached a boiling point against the Blue Devils when Swinney yelled at the secondary before halftime.

This caused Clemson first-year defensive coordinator Tom Allen to change how meetings were structured after Clemson’s second open date with cornerbacks, nickel corners and safeties meeting together instead of separately.

Tom Allen’s son, defensive analyst/assistant linebackers coach Thomas Allen, oversaw the meetings instead of other Clemson defensive back assistants including Conn. He was hired as a defensive assistant in 2016, promoted to safeties coach in 2017 and added defensive passing game coordinator and co-special teams coordinator titles prior to the 2025 season.

The coverage busts were significantly reduced in the final five regular-season games, but the damage was done. Clemson allowed 251.2 passing yards per game, which ranked 119th nationally.

Clemson also had losses in recruiting, signing only one safety in 2026 — four-star Polo Anderson — after two decommitted: three-stars Blake Stewart (Georgia) and Kaden Gebhardt (Ohio State). The Tigers lost Barnes to the transfer portal, too.

Swinney and Conn were teammates at Alabama from 1990-92 and spent nine seasons together as coaches at Clemson.

“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,” Swinney said in a school release.

How much Clemson football owes Mickey Conny after firing

Conn made $950,000 in 2025-26, which was tied for sixth among Clemson assistants and coordinators. He was in the second year of his three-year deal that was worth $2.85 million.

Clemson terminated Conn’s contract early without cause, meaning he is owed the remainder of his contract: $1 million. However, his buyout can be reduced if he finds another job, triggering mitigation.

Mitigation happens when an employee finds new employment, and the person’s buyout amount owed is reduced by the amount earned at the new job during the remainder of the terminated contract.

Derrian Carter covers Clemson athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email him at DCarter@usatodayco.com and follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DerrianCarter00

This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Why Mickey Conn was only position coach Dabo Swinney fired at Clemson

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