Former Clemson Defensive Guru Makes Major Move to SEC Football Program…

Wes Goodwin has found his next coaching opportunity. The former Clemson defensive coordinator has accepted a job with the Oklahoma football program as a defensive analyst, according to reports OUInsider.com and the Tulsa World on Friday afternoon. At Oklahoma, Goodwin reunites with Sooners head coach Brent Venables, who’s in his fourth season as head coach. The two worked together at Clemson when Venables was the defensive coordinator for the Tigers. Goodwin had been linked with the Oklahoma program after he was let go at Clemson earlier this month. Former Sooners defensive coordinator Zac Alley left for the same job at West Virginia. The former Clemson DC, at one point, was being targeted as OU’s defensive coordinator, per reports. But Oklahoma is now closing in on a deal with former Arkansas State defensive coordinator Nate Dreiling for Alley’s former spot.

As part of that reported hire, Venables will call the defense as head coach with new hire Dreiling coaching inside linebackers and Goodwin working as an analyst. Goodwin was making $1.4 million in total salary in 2024, according to a copy of his most recent contract obtained by The State. He was set to earn $1.5 million in 2025-26 and $1.6 million in 2026-27 under a three-year deal approved last February. Because Clemson fired Goodwin without cause, it now owes him 100% of the total compensation remaining on his contract ($3.1 million through Jan. 31, 2027).

That money will now be offset by Goodwin’s salary at Oklahoma. But Clemson will still pay him a vast majority of his remaining salary, as most college football analysts make under six figures in annual salary. Goodwin, a former Clemson analyst who was hired with no formal play-calling experience, was tapped by coach Dabo Swinney in 2021 to replace Venables after Venables accepted Oklahoma’s head coaching job. Clemson’s defense performed well in Goodwin’s first two seasons, and the Tigers tied for the national lead in turnovers forced and defensive touchdowns and finished among the national top 10 in total defense and passing defense in 2023.

But Clemson’s defense regressed significantly in Goodwin’s third year overseeing the unit, and he was fired in early January. Swinney hired Tom Allen, the former Penn State defensive coordinator and Indiana head coach, as Goodwin’s replacement.