Kevin Steele will not return to Clemson next season

CLEMSON -- Clemson football is making a significant coaching change for a second straight offseason.

Clemson sent out an official release on Thursday afternoon announcing Kevin Steele "would not return" in 2012.

Clemson fell to 81st in the country in scoring defense -- allowing 29.3 points per game -- in Steele's third season as defensive coordinator, capped by a 70-33 rout to West Virginia in the Orange Bowl last week. Steele led Clemson to a top 25 scoring defenses in 2009 and 2010.

According to published reports, Steele was fired Thursday, the move coming roughly a year after coach Dabo Swinney released offensive coordinator Billy Napier.

"There are some other coaching opportunities I wish to pursue at this time," Steele said in a statement released by the university.

Steele declined to comment on the nature of his departure when reached by The Post and Courier on Thursday.

Steele did shoot down rumors of health concerns playing a role in his leaving Clemson.

"I'm healthier than 99 percent of men in America," Steele said in a text message.

The new defensive coordinator will mark Swinney's fourth coordinator hire at Clemson.

Steele's contract calls for a $1.2 million buyout in the event he is terminated, dollars that are subject to mitigation.

Steele received a $200,000 raise after his first season at Clemson, signing a new four-year deal worth $675,000 per year in February of 2010. Steele was one of the top 10 paid assistants in the country. Clemson offensive coordinator Chad Morris became the nation's highest-paid assistant when he signed a six-year, $7.8 million contract last month.

Steele was Swinney's first major hire upon being named head coach following the 2008 season, plucking the veteran defensive coach from the Alabama staff. Steele has also coached with the NFL's Carolina Panthers and at Florida State, Tennessee and Nebraska.

Clemson's overall statistical ranking decline can be in part attributed to increased possessions per game due to Chad Morris' up-tempo offense.

This season, Steele was also hurt by the loss of six starters -- including three second-round NFL picks. Depth was also hurt after the 2009 and 2008 recruiting classes were lacking in defensive talent.

But critics noted Steele struggled to defend spread offenses and especially mobile quarterbacks. Clemson struggled to defend Maryland and dual-threat quarterback C.J. Brown this season and South Carolina and dual-threat quarterback Connor Shaw, allowing 100 yards on the ground to both quarterbacks. Clemson allowed Orange Bowl records in passing yards and touchdowns to West Virginia quarterback Geno Smith.

And Steele was never able to slow the Paul Johnson triple-option attack at Georgia Tech as the Yellow Jackets defeated Clemson in three out of four meetings under Steele, including the 2009 ACC title game, before which Steele broke his right hand while giving a fiery pre-game speech.

On the plus side for Steele, Clemson was able to slow the Virginia Tech offense twice this year in two of the programs' biggest wins: a rare road win at Virginia Tech, and for the program's first ACC title in 20 years.

Swinney will meet with the media today. He has spent the majority of the week at a coaching convention. Immediately after the Orange Bowl, Swinney said of his staff "no one forgot how to coach."