Skip to main content
Join Now
Team Avatar
Clemson

Wes Goodwin evaluates balance of coordinator duties, work with linebackers

PeterWarrenPhoto2by: Peter Warren03/08/23thepeterwarren
clemson-defensive-coordonator-wes-goodwin-previews-tennessee-offense-orange-bowl
Wes Goodwin is entering Year 2 as the Clemson defensive coordinator. (Leduc/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

As he enters his second spring as the linebackers coach and defensive coordinator at Clemson, Wes Goodwin has seemed to have further found his footing in the role. Prior to his promotion after the 2021 season, Goodwin had never been a position coach or coordinator before.

But Goodwin had been a senior defensive assistant for the Tigers for four seasons and was also with the program as a graduate assistant and defensive assistant for six seasons from 2009-2014.

Goodwin said that he is seeing the fuller picture in his second year in the role and feels the understanding with his coaches has improved as well.

“I kind of got my routine and stuff,” Goodwin said. “Meeting wise we meet a lot back seven wise. I can be better this year just demanding more and just seeing the big picture more. I feel like every coach in that room knows what to expect from me and how I see the game. We’ve been on plenty of staffs with first year coordinators and it takes some time for that chemistry. You can work with guys 10 years but until somebody else is in that chair, you know, there is some growing pains and just takes time to get everybody on the same page. It’s been really good. This offseason has been great. We’ve done a lot of studying and talking ball and getting better.”

Cade Klubnik explains differences in Clemson system under Garrett Riley

While Wes Goodwin is entering his second year, offensive coordinator Garrett Riley is starting his first year with the Clemson program.

Quarterback Cade Klubnik compared the differences from the offense from last season and Riley’s offense during his press conference for the start of spring ball.

“We went into a game last year with like 80 plays in the play call sheet and we’re going with like 30 now, so just being able to run less plays and getting really really good at it,” Klubnik said. “But he’s even said it doesn’t matter if they know that the play is, we’re still going to be able to beat them at it. So just being really really good at what we’re doing and we had 15 plays today in our install and we ran the same 15 plays for two hours.”