Clemson officially hires Garrett Riley as offensive coordinator

Matt Connollyby:Matt Connolly•01/13/23•

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Clemson has officially hired its new offensive coordinator. Garrett Riley was approved as the new Tigers OC by the Clemson Board of Trustees on Friday.

Riley is also expected to coach quarterbacks at Clemson.

News broke Thursday evening that former Clemson offensive coordinator Brandon Streeter was being fired and would be replaced by Riley.

The former TCU OC arrived at the Pickens County airport Thursday night and was joined by Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney, as well as his family.

After being approved by the Board of Trustees on Friday, Riley is expected to immediately begin recruiting for Clemson.

The contact period just opened back up, and the dead period begins on Jan. 30.

Riley has agreed to a three-year, $1.75 million deal with Clemson. The contract includes a $300,000 signing bonus, which will be paid within 60 days of the start of employment.

The 2022 Broyles Award winner is set to make $2.05 million in 2023, with the signing bonus included. He will make $1.75 million again for the 2024 and 2025 seasons.

Riley will receive his full contract if he is fired without cause. However, the buyout will be reduced on a dollar-by-dollar basis if he is hired elsewhere.

Riley does not have a buyout if he is hired as a college or NFL head coach. He will owe 25 percent of his remaining contract to the University if he is hired as an assistant coach elsewhere.

Riley, who is replacing former Clemson offensive coordinator Brandon Streeter, helped TCU reach the national title game this past season.

The Horned Frogs finished the year 13-2, losing only to Kansas State in the Big 12 title game and Georgia in the national championship game.

TCU upset Michigan 51-45 in the Fiesta Bowl, before getting blown out by Georgia in the national title game.

The Horned Frogs averaged 38.8 points per game, which ranked No. 9 nationally. Garrett Riley helped TCU QB Max Duggan become a Heisman finalist.

Prior to spending this past season at TCU, Riley was the quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator at SMU.

The Mustangs averaged 38.4 points per game and 38.6 points per game in Riley’s two seasons at SMU.

Clemson averaged 33.2 points per game this past season under Streeter, ranking No. 30 nationally.

That was a big step up after the Tigers averaged 26.3 points per game in 2021, but it wasn’t enough for Streeter to keep his job.

Clemson coach Dabo Swinney released a statement Thursday afternoon about his decision to fire Streeter.

“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,” Swinney said.

“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.

Garrett Riley contract

  • Starts Jan., 2023, ends Jan. 31, 2026
  • 3 year contract, paying $1.75 million annually
  • Includes a $300,000 signing bonus to be paid within 60 days
  • Will receive full remaining contract if fired without cause. Buyout will be reduced on a dollar-by-dollar basis if employed elsewhere.
  • Riley will owe the University 25 percent of his total remaining contract if he leaves for a job that is not a head coaching job
  • Includes one vehicle, plus insurance and taxes ($600 per month)
  • Incentives include:
  • Bowl game with 8+plus wins: $20,000
  • College Football Playoff non-semifinal appearance: $40,000
  • College Football Playoff semifinal appearance: $50,000
  • College Football Playoff championship appearance: $60,000
  • If Clemson wins the national title he will receive an additional $25,000
  • If Clemson has a top 10 total relative offense on the Monday after the ACC championship game, Riley will receive an extra $50,000. If it is top 5 he will receive an extra $100,000.
  • If Clemson has a top 10 total offense at the same time frame, he will receive an extra $50,000. If it is top 5, he will receive an extra $100,000.