Clemson Tigers Boss Emotional During Pelham High School Hall Of Fame Induction

Clemson Tigers coach Dabo Swinney went from Pelham to Clemson and proved that he could go home again.
Clemson Head Coach Dabo Swinney introduces newly hired football defensive coordinator Tom Allen, formerly at Penn State University, in the Smart Family Media Center at Clemson University in Clemson, S.C. Wednesday, January 15, 2024.
Clemson Head Coach Dabo Swinney introduces newly hired football defensive coordinator Tom Allen, formerly at Penn State University, in the Smart Family Media Center at Clemson University in Clemson, S.C. Wednesday, January 15, 2024. / Ken Ruinard - staff / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
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Saturday was a very special day for Clemson head football coach Dabo Swinney.

His high school, Pelham (Ala.) High School, inducted him in its first class of 20 honorees into its new Pelham Athletics Hall of Fame.

“I’ve experienced a lot of life, but everything for me comes back to Pelham,” he said in a story posted to the Pelham athletics web site. “Every time I come back here — it doesn’t matter how far removed I am — it feels like yesterday.”

Swinney was not always living the life of luxury he sports now. When he was a child his family lost his childhood home to foreclosure. He recounted the story of how they lost the home. He ultimately bought it back in 2020.

“It was taken away from us, and it was one of those traumatic moments in my life," Swinney said. "I bought it and framed the deed and put my dad’s picture in there.”

Pelham make Swinney football tough. After his family lost their home he kept fighting. He learned how to achieve and overcome. Those are skills he uses today in his coaching career. He helps mold Clemson football players the way his high school coaches like Billy Tohill, Jim Vakakes and Paul Kellogg helped mold him.

“All I did was compete,” he said. “So, I learned how to compete at the highest level.”

His coaches were his rock. They were his redeemer. They taught him more than football. They taught him how to succeed in life. It is because of what those coaches taught him at Pelham that many Clemson players were able to succeed in their careers.

Swinney never forgot where he came from.

It was at Pelham High School where he would meet his wife Kathleen. The couple have three sons. "She has been a rock in my life for a long time," Swinney said while being inducted.

The Swinney name will forever be enshrined in Pelham. It is almost similar as to how Pelham will always be a part of Swinney.

After high school, Swinney walked on at Alabama and was part of the Crimson Tides's 1992 national championship team under the legendary Gene Stallings. After several seasons at Alabama as an assistant, and a short break, he joined Clemon's staff, eventually becoming the interim head coach in 2008 and then taking over as head coach in 2009.

Since he took over, the Tigers have won two national championships and made seven appearances in the College Football Playoff.


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Scott Salomon
SCOTT SALOMON

Scott Salomon joined On SI in April 2024 covering breaking news and analysis for Miami Dolphins On SI. Scott also does the same for the New York Giants On SI and Miami Hurricanes On SI. Scott is based in South Florida and has been covering local and national sports for over 35 years. Scott has been credentialed for the Super Bowl, the NFL Combine, various Orange Bowls and other college football championship bowl games. Scott was also credentialed for the NBA All-Star game and covered the Miami Heat during their first six seasons for USA TODAY. Scott is a graduate of the University of Miami School of Communication and the St. Thomas University School of Law.