Clemson parts ways with OC Garrett Riley and assistant Mickey Conn after disappointing season

By Canadian Press on December 30, 2025.

Clemson is moving on from offensive coordinator Garrett Riley and longtime defensive assistant Mickey Conn, coach Dabo Swinney announced Tuesday.

Swinney expressed his admiration for Riley and said decisions like this are never easy, but the team’s offensive struggles showed its time for a change.

“We just did not get the production and the results that we needed, and I just feel like it is time for a change, and so we will be moving in a different direction with a new offensive coordinator,” Swinney said in a statement.

Swinney also announced the team would be moving on from Conn, who has been with the Tigers since 2016 and served as the safeties coach from 2017 to 2025. Conn also took on responsibilities as the defensive passing game coordinator and co-special teams coordinator this season.

“We will also have a change with the leadership of our safeties with the departure of Mickey Conn,” Swinney said. “Coach Conn is someone that I’ve known since 1990 and he truly is family to me. He has done an amazing job here at Clemson.”

The coaching changes come after a disappointing season. Clemson, ranked No. 4 in the AP preseason poll, went 7-6 and ended the season with a 22-10 loss to Penn State in the Pinstripe Bowl.

“I am excited about the plan we have in place for our secondary and our defensive staff, and I am looking forward to identifying the right leader for our offense to help achieve our goals for 2026 and beyond,” Swinney said.

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Maura Carey, The Associated Press

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