COLUMBIA, S.C. — Tommy Bowden decided he had done all he could do for Clemson football, telling his athletic director Monday he would step aside for the future of the program.
AD Terry Don Phillips said his intent Monday morning was to have a candid heart-to-heart with Bowden about the football team. So Phillips was surprised when Bowden offered to walk away in midseason.
“There wasn’t a gun to his head,” Phillips said. “He put it on the table for the sake of the program. I agreed.”
Bowden will be paid through the end of the season, then get $3.5 million as a buyout negotiated in the contract extension both sides agreed to last December.
Bowden sat next to Phillips in McFadden Auditorium, where he has held meetings and news conferences the past 10 seasons. He thanked the school, administrators and his latest players.
“I wish them nothing but success, and I will be their biggest fan on Saturday” against Georgia Tech, Bowden said.
Assistant head coach and receivers coach Dabo Swinney will take over the club.
It’s a far fall for a team some figured to contend for a national title. The year began with the Tigers ranked No. 9 and picked to win the Atlantic Coast Conference. But an opening 34-10 rout by Alabama and losses to Maryland and Wake Forest raised calls again for Bowden’s ouster.
Clemson went 72-45 (43-32 ACC) and made eight bowl appearances under Bowden, who was honored as ACC coach of the year in 1999 and 2003.
