Feb. 15, 2010

CLEMSON, SC - Clemson Head Coach Dabo Swinney ranked second among first-year head coaches by College Football News for the 2009 season. Swinney led the Tigers to a 9-5 record, the second most wins among the 22 programs that had a first-year head coach last season.

Chip Kelly of Oregon was ranked first after he led Oregon to its first Pac-10 Championship and Rose Bowl bid since 1994. Oregon finished with a 10-3 record, the most wins in the nation among programs with a first-year head coach. Clemson was second with its nine wins.

Swinney coached Clemson to a 6-2 ACC record, tied for the best conference record for the Clemson program since 1991. The Tigers reached the ACC Championship game for the first time since the league went to a two-division format in 2005. Clemson finished the season 24th in the final AP poll and the final College Football News poll.

Top 10 First Year Coaches by College Football News
Rk. Coach - School
1. Chip Kelly - Oregon
2. Dabo Swinney - Clemson
3. Steve Sarkisian - Washington
4. Paul Rhoads - Iowa State
5. Frank Spaziani - Boston College
6. Gene Chizik - Auburn
7. Dave Christensen - Wyoming
8. Lane Kiffin - Tennessee
9. Bill Snyder - Kansas State
10. Danny Hope - Purdue