One on One with Terry Don Phillips

When did you know Swinney was the guy? Was it a hard sell to trustees and the president?

"In all candor, it would have been difficult for him to become the head coach without having the opportunity (during the interim period) to been seen in action in that regard. During that period, the trustees and president had time to get a feel of how Dabo approaches things, his values and character. The team did perk up under his leadership. They readily accepted the recommendation."

With Swinney's early success and his incentive-laden contract -- Swinney began the season as the ACC's lowest paid coach ($800,000) but his base pay will rise to $1.7 million with an ACC title game appearance -- and some, like the Sporting News, say you are beginning to look like a genius.

"It isn't rocket science. It's one of those things where you sit down and want to structure this (contract) o be fair to Dabo and be fair to the program."

You are charged with leading Clemson through a difficult recession. Athletic revenues across the country are down double-figure percentage points. How is the financial situation? And did economics factor into the Swinney hire?

"We are fortunate. We are on solid financial ground. We are able to handle contingencies of coaches' contracts. You want to be reasonable and prudent with your resources, no question, but we could have made whatever decision needed to be made. We conducted a national search."

Are you in favor of compensation limits for head coaches?

"Compensation is the new arms race. Most schools are pretty well caught up in facilities, particularly in this area. We are in pretty good shape, though there are some things we want to do with basketball. … The huge expenditures have shifted to compensation. You have assistant coaches making more than head coaches used to make. The only way you could ever control the bottom line on compensation is universities would have to take the position 'this is our upper limit and we are not going to exceed that and they would have to do it unilaterally.' I don't believe people would be comfortable with that."

How long do you want to be the athletic director at Clemson? (Phillips' contract runs through 2013). Will your health play a role? (Phillips endured two back surgeries last winter).

"I've been blessed with good health all my life. The last few years have been difficult. I've been doing much better than I was just a month and a half ago. We haven't achieved the success that I believe we are very capable of achieving. You want to have fun in your job. It's not fun everyday if you are struggling. We have some things we need to shore up across the board."

Do you pay attention to outside criticism?

"I don't listen to talk radio. I don't look at the Internet. I don't follow blogs. … The best piece of advice I got a long time ago came from (Arkansas) coach Frank Broyles. I had asked him about something that appeared in the Arkansas Gazette. 'Did you read that?' I asked. Broyles said, 'No. I never read the state paper. I subscribe to the New York Times. I get all the news I need and they don't care about the Razorbacks.' If you listen to those things that are out there, No. 1 there is nothing you can do about it … and all of us have sensitivities. If you start thinking about that you can't do your job."