Yahoo Sports Clemson hires Penn State defensive coordinator Tom Allen
The former Indiana coach said the move brings he and his wife closer to their two daughters
Clemson has found its new defensive coordinator.
The Tigers announced Tuesday that Penn State’s Tom Allen would be making the move to the ACC. Allen, the former head coach at Indiana, had been in State College for one season.
“He will hit the ground running this week to get started helping us achieve all of our goals in 2025," Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said in a statement. "He brings a ton of experience and was highly recommended by some of the best people in this business. He is obviously coming off of a great year as the defensive coordinator at Penn State, and we’re excited to welcome him as our defensive coordinator here at Clemson.”
Clemson was looking for a defensive coordinator after parting ways with Wes Goodwin. The Tigers’ defense was gashed by Texas’ run game in the first round of the College Football Playoff as the Longhorns won 38-24. Overall, Clemson gave up 4.7 yards a carry this season and allowed at least 267 rushing yards in three of its last four games.
Allen replaced Manny Diaz as Penn State's defensive coordinator after Diaz became the head coach at Duke. PSU’s defense was one of the best in college football in 2024 and allowed as many yards per play overall as Clemson did per rushing attempt. Opposing offenses averaged just 3.1 yards a carry against the Nittany Lions.
Allen said in a Clemson statement that the move from Penn State brings him closer to he and his wife Tracy’s two daughters.
“My family is very important to me and this move provides us the unique opportunity of living close to our daughters," Allen said. "Our children have made countless sacrifices throughout the years in the coaching profession and this move brings us together."
“I can’t wait to get to work with this Clemson staff and team and their commitment to ‘Best is the Standard.’”
Allen went to Penn State after he was fired at Indiana following the 2023 season. Allen spent eight seasons as Indiana’s head coach as the team was 33-49 in his tenure. Indiana went to three bowl games in those eight seasons. The Hoosiers hired James Madison coach Curt Cignetti to replace Allen for the 2024 season and Indiana won 11 games for the first time in school history to make it into the College Football Playoff.
