Steele says he's still Clemson's defensive coordinator

ATLANTA — Kevin Steele will remain at Clemson, according to a source close to the situation.

Steele told The Post and Courier on Tuesday night he remained Clemson's defensive coordinator, responding to reports he had accepted an offer to become Tennessee's new defensive coordinator.

Steele declined to confirm or deny whether he had spoken with or received an offer from Tennessee. He also declined to comment on whether he had agreed to terms of a new contract to remain at Clemson, though a source believed Clemson had made a counterproposal.

"There is no news to report," said Steele, who came to Clemson from Alabama last year.

Steele was also linked to the open Tennessee head coaching job last week, which was eventually filled by Derek Dooley, the former Louisiana Tech coach. Steele told The Post and Courier last week he had not been contacted by Tennessee.

As seen with Clemson pitching coach Kyle Bunn's departure to Alabama following the baseball season, and again on Tuesday, the great threat to ACC programs like Clemson is the SEC's revenue.

The SEC's spending power is greatly enhanced with the conference's lucrative new television deals totaling some $3 billion over 15 years.

Georgia just hired Todd Grantham as its defensive coordinator, signing him to a three-year deal for $750,000 per season.

Swinney entered the season with the same base salary as a head coach.

Steele signed a three-year deal worth $375,000 per season last year. It is a contract a source said was a priority for Clemson to enhance this offseason.

Those talks were believed to have escalated Tuesday night, as Swinney has hoped to keep his entire staff intact for 2010.