Clemson Tigers Preview 2018 - Swinney and Saban are more alike than you think

Over the last three seasons, the Clemson Tigers are 40-4 with two of those wins coming in the playoffs. Over the course of the program’s ascendancy, Dabo Swinney has earned a reputable title for himself as an elite head coach, and has often been compared to Nick Saban as a dominating powerhouse in the world of college football. Many athletes, coaches, and even musicians often don’t like being compared to their competition or even their predecessors, Swinney, a reverent Christian seems to appreciate the comparison, as it indicates to him that he doing something right. Despite the growing rivalry between their two programs, both coaches appear to have the utmost respect for one another. ?

Reading and listening to how these two head coaches define their processes, I have noticed some important parallels between their leadership philosophies. According to Swinney, the culture he has installed in the Clemson program is driven by ‘The Why’ of what he, his staff and his athletes do–not just how they do it, but why. As such, his leadership style is highly focused on intent and purpose.