Tom Allen Explains Decision to Leave Penn State for Clemson
Tom Allen wore a weary smile in Penn State’s locker room after the Orange Bowl as he surveyed a silent, still group of players hurting over the Nittany Lions’ 27-24 loss to Notre Dame. Penn State’s defensive coordinator, at least for that moment, tried to find context.
“[They] were part of a special, special group,” Allen said. “It’s easy to lose sight of that right now. No one wants to hear that right now [after the loss to Notre Dame]. There’s a lot of hurting guys in this locker room, and rightly so. But I want them to be remembered as one of the best defenses in the country and one of the best defenses in Penn State history. They gave it all to the final whistle.”
That was a Thursday. A day later, Allen was talkling with Clemson coach Dabo Swinney about becoming the program’s next defensive coordinator. This week, Clemson made it official, and Allen explained his decision to leave Penn State after one season. It was his family. “Faith and family is a big deal to me,” Allen said during his introductory press conference at Clemson.
“Our two daughters actually both live in the Carolinas,” Allen said. “Brittany lives down the road here [in South Carolina], … and Hannah lives in North Carolina and she’s expecting our second grandchild here in about 30 days. So the chance to have our two girls close by and [son] Thomas here with us and his little son … so family means a lot to me, and my wife has made some amazing sacrifices over the years for me to pursue the dream that I’ve put my heart in to coach football at this level.
“Excuse my voice,” Allen added, “I’ve been yeling here recently. I talk fast and I yell a lot. But the bottom line is, we’re all thankful for this opportunity.”
In his one season with Penn State, Allen worked with son Thomas, who was a defensive analyst and analytics coordinator. Thomas Allen will join his father’s defensive staff at Clemson as well. But Allen, who spent seven seasons as Indiana’s head coach before joining Penn State’s staff, said he wanted to bring his entire family closer together. Swinney offered that opportunity at Clemson.
Swinney said that Allen would not entertain conversations until after Penn State’s season ended. That was at the Orange Bowl on Jan. 9. Swinney said he respected Allen’s decision to put off their interview until the next day.
“I just felt like he was the right leader I needed at this time,” Swinney said at the introductory press conference.
Allen thanked Penn State coach James Franklin for the opportunity to be the team’s defensive coordinator and said he didn’t “reach out [to Swinney] because I wasn’t looking” for another job. “Obviously still wish we were playing one more [game],” Allen said of his time at Penn State.
According to the Greenville News, Allen received a three-year contract worth $6 million, a substantial raise over what he was making at Penn State. Allen also received a $903,150 signing bonus in part to cover the buyout he owes Penn State for leaving after one season.
During his introductory press conference, however, Allen grew emotional discussing the sacrifices his family has made through his coaching career. “I know not everyone is going to understand it, and I respect that,” Allen said. “It’s about my family and the timing of it all.”
“It was a 10-year window [between] when we left high school [coaching in 2006] and when I fulfilled my dream of being a defensive coordinator in the Big Ten,” Allen added. “… That was 10 years. We lived in seven states in those 10 years and a lot of moves. And who are those moves on? That’s on my wife. I mean, she’s the superstar in this whole thing, and she’s been amazing and I just appreciate her so much because I was chasing after this dream.”
Clemson DC Tom Allen gets choked up talking about the sacrifices his wife and kids had to make as he pursued his coaching career. “We’re really close.” Says pulling his kids out of school was taxing on everyone. “One time my daughter just wouldn’t get out of the car” pic.twitter.com/J0wu3W7YED
— Chapel Fowler (@chapelfowler) January 15, 2025
Penn State continues its search for a new defensive coordinator to replace Allen. One candidate, USC defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn, signed a contract extension with the Trojans this week.
More Penn State Football
A look at Penn State’s potential candidates to replace Tom Allen
Related
Buccaneers RB Bucky Irving Named ESPN’s Fantasy Football Waiver Wire…
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers' 2024 season is now complete after the team dropped their Wild Card round matchup against the Washington Commanders. Despite the pain t
Arena football will return to Nassau Coliseum in June
Arena football will make its return to the Nassau Coliseum this summer. The newly formed Entertainment Football Association is scheduled to make its debut on Sa
Revisiting pre-2024 college football head coach rankings
Offseason power rankings are rarely held to account, but three different rankings of FBS head coaches are worth a revisit now with one game remaining in the 20
EA Sports College Football 26 is Officially Happening
Summary EA Sports confirms that College Foot
