Clemson's new defensive coach Brent Venables (left) listens to head coach Dabo Swinney talk to the media. (Jan. 20, 2012/FOX Carolina)CLEMSON, SC (FOX Carolina) -
On Friday, Clemson officially named Brent Venables its new defensive coordinator.
Venables, 41, has been the full-time defensive coach for the University of Oklahoma Sooners for 13 years. He has 16 years experience as a defensive coach at the highest level of college football. All of his teams have played in a bowl game - eight were in Bowl Championship Series matchups and four were for the national championship.
"We are getting one of the top coordinators in the nation," Clemson head football coach Dabo Swinney said. "This hire shows that everyone at Clemson wants us to be the best we can possibly be."
For the past 16 years, teams guided by Venables have ranked in the top 20 in the nation for total defense 11 times.
Before Oklahoma, Venables helped Kansas State to a 31-6 record in his three years with the program, including a 21-3 mark in Big 12 Conference play.
"I am excited to see his impact on our players and can't wait for the beginning of spring practice," Swinney said.
Venables and his wife have two sons and two daughters.
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