Clemson and head coach Dabo Swinney have agreed to a lucrative new long-term contract extension, but the next order of business for both should be locking up offensive coordinator Chad Morris.
The new eight-year contract, which was announced by the school Saturday, seems to be structured in such a way to do just that. Swinney's average salary will be about $3.4 million per season, The Post and Courier reported. The $1.2 million raise from his previous deal seems reasonable compared with some of the other dollar figures bandied about for coaches over the last few months.
And that should allow for a bump in salary for Morris, whose arrival in 2011 sparked the Tigers' rise in prominence. After going 25-16 in Swinney's first three seasons, Clemson is 32-8 with two BCS bowl appearances and one ACC title since the introduction of Morris' spread offense.
Morris was especially effective in featuring wide receiver Sammy Watkins, projected to be drafted No. 2 overall by the St. Louis Rams in NFL Media analyst Daniel Jeremiah's initial mock draft. Watkins had 240 receptions for 3,391 yards and 27 touchdowns in three seasons at Clemson.
Morris is already the highest-paid assistant coach in college football, at $1.3 million per season, and has been a candidate for head coaching positions at Louisville and Vanderbilt.
But for all that success -- and money -- the Swinney/Morris pairing has yet to produce a win over in-state rival South Carolina. Until that happens, Steve Spurrier has bragging rights on the field and in the pocketbook.
Follow Dan Greenspan on Twitter @DanGreenspan.
