Due in part to Clemson struggling to land most of its top offensive line targets in the 2024 recruiting cycle, Dabo Swinney decided to make a change, replacing assistant Thomas Austin with veteran Matt Luke.
The Ole Miss Rebels are in the market for another staff member, as senior associate athletic director/football general manager Austin Thomas is reportedly set to return to the LSU Tigers for a third stint, per 247Sports.
Clemson’s offensive line recruiting was spearheaded by Thomas Austin during his tenure, and the Tigers have to work to maintain those relationships with the staff change.
CLEMSON — Letting Thomas Austin go was one of the more difficult decisions of Dabo Swinney’s head coaching career. Austin, who Swinney hired two years ago as his offensive line coach, played for Swinney and was a captain on his first Clemson team.
The Clemson Tigers have hired former Georgia offensive line coach Matt Luke. Luke is expected to replace Clemson offensive line coach Thomas Austin, who Tigers head coach Dabo Swinney elected to part with several days ago.
CLEMSON — It did not take long for Dabo Swinney to find replacements for the departed Thomas Austin and Lemanski Hall. Clemson’s head coach let Austin and Hall go last Thursday, by Saturday afternoon the names of whom he was going to replace them with already surfaced and on Monday morning, the new coaches were approved.
Clemson Football isn’t standing still this week. Dabo Swinney is turning over at least two positions on his staff. Thomas Austin will no longer coach the offensive line, and Lemanski Hall will move on from coaching the defensive ends.
Clemson Football parted ways with Offensive Line Coach Thomas Austin on Thursday, and today a name has already popped up as his potential successor. Former Ole Miss head coach and Georgia offensive line coach Matt Luke has emerged as a candidate per Larry Williams of Tiger Illustrated, as well as others.
Clemson Football began seeing player exits this week from players leaving early for the NFL and entering the transfer portal. Thursday, it was coaches leaving the staff.
This Clemson assistant coach will not be back on Dabo Swinney’s staff next season. The Clemson Insider has confirmed that the Tigers are parting ways with offensive line coach Thomas Austin.