Clemson Football Head Coach Dabo Swinney introduced Tom Allen as the team’s new defensive coordinator on Wednesday afternoon, highlighting Allen’s commitment to not only football but also faith and family.
Over the past decade, Allen and his wife have moved across seven states, pursuing what he described as a shared dream of coaching college football. Now, taking the job at Clemson allows the couple to reunite with their two daughters, both of whom live in the Carolinas.
“Our girls cried when they found out I was taking this job because we’re so close,” Allen said, his voice breaking with emotion. “Those moments, you just can’t put a price on them.”
With one of his daughters expecting his second grandchild, Allen has also brought his son and grandson along from Penn State to join the Clemson coaching staff, reuniting his entire family.
Reflecting on their journey, Allen said, “They’ve been through so much—so many moves, multiple elementary schools, middle schools, and not one of them went to just one high school. Each attended at least two. That’s a tough road. So to have this chance to be together now, I couldn’t pass it up. And then to pair that with working with someone like Coach Swinney—those who know me weren’t surprised.”
Tom Allen brings over three decades of coaching experience at the high school and college levels, including seven seasons as Indiana’s head coach and a recent stint as defensive coordinator for a Penn State team that reached the College Football Playoff semifinals. He also carries with him a core principle he learned from his father, who coached him in high school football.
“I’ve learned to be demanding without being demeaning,” Allen explained. “I want to hold these guys to a high level of accountability—how they practice, how hard they play, and how they handle the details—but it’s all about how you go about it.”
Allen emphasized that his approach to coaching starts with building strong relationships. He plans to meet one-on-one with every defensive player, taking detailed notes to create a personalized profile for each. At the end of each meeting, he will pose a key question:
“Tell me the three most important things in your life.”
For Allen, this question is pivotal. “It shows me what they value because I can’t truly motivate or connect with someone unless I understand what matters to them,” he said. “Once I know that, I can hold them to a high standard. When players realize you care more about them as individuals than as athletes, the process moves faster. The secret sauce is caring for them at an elite level.”
With a master’s degree in educational leadership, Allen is combining his coaching expertise with a deep focus on mentorship, bridging his personal family and his new Clemson family.
“This is what I was born to do,” Allen said. He is fully committed to the role as Clemson gears up for spring football, which begins on February 28.
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