Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney shared his admiration for former Tigers assistant and current Virginia head coach Tony Elliott, who has guided the Cavaliers to the top of the ACC standings. Virginia sits at 5-1 overall and 3-0 in conference play, earning the No. 19 spot in the latest AP Poll.
“Super proud of Tony,” Swinney said Tuesday. “They’re the epitome of a team that believes. They’re playing together, and they believe. That’s a powerful thing.”
Elliott’s history with Clemson runs deep. A wide receiver for the Tigers from 1999-2003, he later joined Swinney’s staff in 2011 and spent over a decade helping Clemson to a 130-21 record and two national championships. His work as co-offensive coordinator earned him the 2017 Broyles Award, honoring the nation’s top assistant coach.
Now in his fourth year leading Virginia, Elliott has the Cavaliers on a remarkable turnaround after three losing seasons. Swinney commended both Elliott and the UVA administration for their patience and belief in his leadership.
“They’ve been through a lot, and I couldn’t be more proud,” Swinney said. “It’d be easy to give up on a guy, but Tony’s special. He always has been.”
The Cavaliers have won four straight, including back-to-back overtime thrillers over Florida State and Louisville. The victory over the Seminoles marked Virginia’s first home win against a top-10 team since 2005.
“When you’ve got a team that’s truly together and playing with an unshakeable belief, magic can happen,” Swinney said. “Next thing you know, you get a lot of synergy. It’s been awesome to see.”
Elliott’s early years at Virginia were marked by unimaginable tragedy when three players lost their lives in a 2022 campus shooting. Swinney said he believes Elliott was uniquely suited to guide the program through that hardship.
What Clemson football coach Dabo Swinney said about Boston College ahead of Week 7 matchup https://t.co/zalKXPjxI8pic.twitter.com/C2G7X0GkXX
— Clemson Wire (@Clemson_Wire) October 7, 2025
“I think that was God’s plan—to take him there for that reason,” Swinney said. “He’s the right leader for what they’ve been through. He’s done a good job, and it’s been fun to see.”
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: Dabo Swinney says he’s proud of Virginia head coach Tony Elliott
