It might seem odd to see a defensive coordinator for a team that reached the College Football Playoff semifinals to take a new job.

With Allen’s hiring, five of Clemson’s 10 assistant coaches are now set to make at at $1 million in annual salary in 2025 (Allen, Riley, Matt Luke, Chris Rumph and Nick Eason). That’s on top of Swinney’s annual salary of $11.25 million for this year and puts the Tigers comfortably among the nation’s top 10 in total assistant coach pay.

Tom Allen carries a wealth of coaching experience, dating back to 1992. He will be tasked with reviving Clemson's defense after a rough 2024 season.