Tom Allen understands some of the questions surrounding his decision to leave Penn State after one highly-successful season to take a seemingly lateral move as Clemson‘s new defensive coordinator. Still,

After a semifinal elimination during the College Football Playoffs, former Penn State defensive coordinator Tom Allen decided to sign with the Clemson Tigers ahead of the 2025 campaign.

Tom Allen is Clemson’s defensive coordinator because he runs a unit that fits what Dabo Swinney was looking for. Swinney was asked what schematically led him to Allen in the hiring process during their introductory press conference.

In his teens, Tom adored Victoria Wood As Seen On TV. “I loved the way they portrayed everyday conversations. Everyone else at school in my year was into Oasis and Ali G, I was into Noel Coward and Kenneth Williams. I gravitated towards Kenneth, him trying to be so grand and always falling short. That was wonderful.”

Allen, he said, wasn’t looking for a job. He was laser-focused on Penn State’s CFP semifinal game against Notre Dame at the Orange Bowl. The Nittany Lions made the field as an at-large team (No. 6 seed) and won games against SMU and Boise State.

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.

Whitehouse offensive coordinator Tucker Carter has accepted a job as the head football coach and athletic director at Livingston ISD.

Clemson coach Dabo Swinney shares what impact Matt Luke had on his decision to hire Tom Allen as defensive coordinator.

Tom Allen will have some talented and impactful standouts to work with in 2025. On3 ranked the Top 25 most impactful players for the 2025 season, and three of A

A longtime believer in “blooming where you’re planted,” Swinney has now made five straight outside hires for assistant coaches.

When it comes to recruiting, James Franklin rarely takes a backseat. He proved that again Sunday when he lured Ohio State’s defensive coordinator, Jim Knowles, to Penn State. Of course, money helped.

While discussing Tom Brady's new role, Raiders owner Mark Davis said former coach Jon Gruden had his "head chopped off" following scandal.