A Walk-on Coach

A Walk-On Coach

Dabo Swinney, the Clemson Tigers head football coach, describes himself as a “walk-on coach.” A walk-on wide receiver for the Crimson Tide, the Pelham, Alabama, native has worked hard for his success on the football field. Playing under receivers coach Tommy Bowden and head coach Gene Stallings at Alabama, Swinney had to work double duty to earn a spot over a recruited scholarship player.

After graduation, Swinney was given a graduate assistant role and then earned a job on the Alabama coaching staff. After being out of football for a time, Coach Swinney rejoined Coach Bowden at Clemson as his wide-receivers coach. Swinney was known for his recruiting prowess and his personal connection to his players. His work ethic stood out to the then athletic director, Terry Don Phillips, who made a coaching change midseason, releasing Coach Bowden and naming Swinney as the interim head coach. The only thing that changed after that was that the interim tag was removed.

I had the privilege of interviewing Coach Swinney before the 2014–15 season, when he shared his faith journey with me. From a broken home with an alcoholic father, to a time when he and his mom were homeless, to walking on at Alabama, Coach Swinney has had to overcome tremendous adversity and learn to persevere through great difficulty. God has done a work in his life, and his zeal for the Lord, his family, his players, Clemson University, and others is very clear.

When I think of Coach Swinney, I think of Proverbs 14:23, which says, “Work brings profit, but mere talk leads to poverty!” You know, there is so much beyond our control, but when we focus on what we can control and dedicate it all to the Lord, anything is possible. Go work hard today, and enjoy the profit that comes!

Work brings profit, but mere talk leads to poverty!

Proverbs 14:23