A former offensive coach for the Clemson Tigers is taking new job with an SEC program that lost several games against ranked teams last year due to lackluster scoring.
Following a disappointing 7-6 season, Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney decided to make changes with his coaching staff after a 22-10 loss to Penn State in the Pinstripe Bowl on Dec. 27.
Swinney fired offensive coordinator Garrett Riley on Dec. 29 and named Chad Morris as Riley’s replacement for 2026. It will be Morris’ second stint with the Tigers, as he was the offensive coordinator from 2011 to 2014.
The Tigers entered the season as the favorite to win the ACC and return to the College Football Playoff with a preseason No. 4 ranking. However, offensive troubles crushed the campaign in Week 1 with a 17-10 loss to LSU.
Clemson was held to 24 points or fewer in losses to Georgia Tech, Syracuse and SMU.
On Friday, Riley found a new job in the SEC. Per On3, Missouri is hiring Riley as an assistant for the offense in 2026.
Missouri head coach Eli Drinkwitz is known for his creative play calling, but Mizzou needs to jumpstart its offense.
The Tigers failed to score points against ranked teams in the SEC, scoring a combined 33 points in losses against Vanderbilt, Texas A&M and Oklahoma.
Mizzou scored only one touchdown in a 13-7 loss to Virginia in the Gator Bowl.
Riley became a decorated coach during his three seasons at Clemson. He won the Broyles Award in 2022, given to the top assistant coach in the country.
However, the offense became stagnant in recent seasons, and Tigers and Riley should be better off with a fresh start.
Swinney suggested it wasn't an easy decision to fire Riley, but thinks he will work his way up to become a head coach.
"At the end of the day, we just did not get the production and the results that we needed, and I just feel like it is time for a change, and so we will be moving in a different direction with a new offensive coordinator...
“I appreciate all of his efforts on behalf of our players and our program. Garrett is smart, he’s got great work ethic and he’s a great coach, but it just didn’t work like we both wanted. He’s got an amazing career ahead and he’ll be a great head coach in the future."
In 2026, Garrett is taking a job that will be a downgrade from his gig at Clemson. He will work under first-year offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey, who came to Mizzou from Michigan when Kirby Moore left to become the head coach at Washington State.