Steele to remain at Clemson

ATLANTA -- The text message received from Dabo Swinney on Tuesday night was clear and concise: Steele is staying.

It reaffirmed what Kevin Steele told The Post and Courier hours earlier, that he remained Clemson's defensive coordinator. Steele was 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 Grantham to a three-year deal for $750,000 per season. Swinney -- a head coach -- entered the season with nearly the same base salary ($820,000).

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.

Another problem presented by Steele's possible departure was taking Clemson defensive assistants along with him to Knoxville so close to the Feb. 3 National Signing Day, a time period that is not ideal to begin searching for replacements.

Steele led the Tigers to a 20th overall ranking in total defense. Under previous coordinator Vic Koenning, the Tigers ranked 18th in total defense in 2008. Swinney recruited Steele in part to bring a more aggressive brand of defense to Clemson and the Tigers, who improved their sack total to 36 from 13 in 2008.

Reach Travis Sawchik at tsawchik@postandcourier.com.

and check out his Clemson blog at www.postandcourier.om/blogs/tiger_tracks.