Clemson has officially finalized a major change on the offensive side of the ball.
The university’s Board of Trustees’ Compensation Committee approved the hiring of Chad Morris as the Tigers’ new offensive coordinator on Monday morning, locking in a three-year contract that will pay him $1.2 million per season, plus performance-based incentives.
Morris returns to Clemson for the third time, rejoining the program where he previously helped oversee one of the most productive offensive stretches in school history. He served as Clemson’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach from 2011–14, then returned as an offensive analyst in 2023. His latest hire comes as the Tigers look to reboot an offense that finished seventh in the ACC in total offense during the 2025 season and struggled to consistently generate points.
Head coach Dabo Swinney made the move after dismissing former offensive coordinator Garrett Riley following Clemson’s 7–6 campaign, which ended with a 10-point performance in the Pinstripe Bowl against Penn State. Swinney expressed confidence that Morris is the right fit to get the Tigers back on track offensively.
“There are always tough decisions that have to be made in this profession, and though I had to make a couple of tough decisions, it was an easy decision to hire Chad Morris,” Swinney said. “The name of the game is points, and the one thing I know about Chad is that he knows how to score points.”
Morris has not called plays since the 2020 season at Auburn, spending recent years in analyst and position-coach roles, including a stint at Texas State in 2024. He took last season away from coaching to follow his son Chandler during Virginia’s 11-win campaign.
Clemson coach Dabo Swinney makes statement on Chad Morris hire https://t.co/sJjT9D6JM6pic.twitter.com/pqj1SGnz5r
— Clemson Wire (@Clemson_Wire) January 5, 2026
Under the terms of Morris’ contract, he can earn significant bonuses tied to postseason success, including incentives for ACC championships, College Football Playoff appearances, and a national title.
During his previous run at Clemson, Morris helped the Tigers set 127 offensive records, win the 2011 ACC Championship, and post a 41–11 overall record, making his return one rooted firmly in past success and renewed expectations.
Here’s what Morris had to say about being hired by the Tigers:
“My previous time in this role at Clemson was truly one of the most joyful times of my career,” Morris said. “It excites me to have an opportunity to come back and to do it under very similar circumstances from where we were in 2011 and where we are in 2026. I can’t thank Coach Swinney, Graham Neff and the Board of Trustees enough for this opportunity.”
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This article originally appeared on Clemson Wire: Clemson announces Chad Morris as the Tigers new offensive coordinator
