Heading into his 18th season as Clemson's head coach, Dabo Swinney says he isn't planning on retiring anytime soon.
"I'm right about the same age Nick (Saban) was when he got to Alabama. So I'm just getting going, man," Swinney told On3's Chris Low.
"I love a challenge, and again, all we've done is win. Sometimes, people want me to be like this guy or that guy, and I'm like, 'What's that guy done? How many championships has that guy won?' I've got 11 championships. The next closest is Kirby, who's got six."
Swinney is coming off arguably the most disappointing season of his coaching tenure at Clemson. The Tigers finished the campaign at 7-6, their fewest wins since 2010, despite a loaded roster that began the year ranked No. 4 in the preseason AP Poll. Notably, nine players from the team were selected in the 2026 draft, tying the program record for most draftees in the seven-round era.
Clemson started the 2025 season by losing to LSU and then trailing Troy 17-0 in the next game before rallying to victory. After falling to Georgia Tech the following week, Swinney went on a fiery rant, saying, "If Clemson's tired of winning, they can send me on my way," according to CBS Sports' Zachary Pereles.
The Tigers will look to rebound in 2026 with a new starting quarterback after the New Jets drafted Cade Klubnik in the fourth round. Redshirt junior Christopher Vizzina is the frontrunner to secure the job, having thrown for 406 yards and four touchdowns in five appearances last season.
Swinney has also been active in the portal this offseason compared to past years, as he has brought in 11 transfers, the most he's signed as Clemson's head coach.
"You're not going to make it in this business if you don't adapt and keep growing and keep learning," Swinney said of his portal additions. "You've got to have the discipline to change when it's necessary. Our purpose hasn't changed. Our core values haven't changed.
"How we achieve it has had to change a gazillion times in 18 years, and it will have to change a gazillion more times over the next decade because more change is coming. College football ain't through changing."
Swinney has won two national championships and nine ACC titles with the Tigers. Clemson's 57 wins since 2020 also rank seventh across all of college football.
The program kicks off its 2026 season against LSU on Sept. 5.
