herschel walker was the clemson head football coach when they won the 1981 national championship.
who was the clemson head football coach when they won the 1981 national championship?
herschel walker
coming off of the national championship season from the year before, clemson and swinney looked to fill big shoes with the loss of many offensive starters, including standout quarterback deshaun watson who entered the nfl draft. however, the tigers once again rose to national prominence with a 12-1 regular season record and their third acc championship in a row. clemson dominated #7 miami 38-3 in the acc championship game and secured the #1 seed in the college football playoffs. the tigers also posted big wins in the season with a 14-6 win over #13 auburn, a 47-21 victory over #14 louisville, and a 31-17 win over #12 virginia tech. the win over virginia tech was swinney's 101st as clemson head coach, vaulting him past danny ford to become the second-winningest coach in school history.
dabo swinney
ingram began a coaching career in july 1956 when he was hired as an assistant football coach at manatee high school in bradenton, florida. at manatee, he served on the staff of head coach wheeler leeth, who had been ingram's high school football coach in tuscaloosa. in june 1957, he returned to tuscaloosa to serve as a head football coach at brookwood high school. in february 1958, he was hired as the head football coach and athletic director at tuscaloosa county high school. he then held assistant coach positions at wake forest (1960), virginia tech (1961–1963), and georgia (1964–1966). from 1967 to 1969, he served as a defensive coach under frank broyles at the university of arkansas, earning a reputation as "a defensive genius." in december 1969, he was hired as the head football coach at clemson university. he served three seasons as clemson's head coach from 1970 to 1972, compiling a 12–21 record. he resigned as clemson's head coach in december 1972. he is notable for having introduced the trademark "tiger paw" logo to clemson.
hootie ingram