Elliott returns to Clemson

by Press Release - Thu Jan 13 11:08:50 GMT-04:00 2011

Clemson, SC—Clemson Head Coach Dabo Swinney announced today that former Tigers receiver Tony Elliott has returned to the school as running backs coach. Elliott has spent the last three years as a wide receivers coach at Furman University.

Elliott was a co-captain of Clemson’s 2003 team that finished the year with a 9-4 record and a #22 national ranking by AP and USA Today. Elliott had 23 receptions for 286 yards and a touchdown that season, and was a recipient of the ACC’s Weaver-James-Corrigan Postgraduate Scholarship.

Swinney was Elliott’s position coach in his senior season (2003). That year in a survey of Clemson players conducted by the Anderson Independent, Elliott was named “the most respected player” on the team.

Elliott finished his career with 34 career receptions for 455 yards and two scores. The original walk-on lettered four years (2000-03) and played in 44 career games, four as a starter.

The December 2002 Clemson graduate who earned his undergraduate degree in engineering, was a first-team Academic All-ACC selection and a CoSIDA Academic District III team member. He was also honored as a Scholar Athlete by the Peach Bowl.

Elliott entered the business world after his playing days were over at Clemson and worked with Michelin North America for two years.

He returned to coaching in 2006 as an assistant at South Carolina State. He helped the Bulldogs to consecutive 7-4 seasons in 2006 and 2007. The 2006 team was 23rd in the nation in total offense.

Elliott became the wide receivers coach at Furman in 2008. He helped Furman to a 7-5 record his first year. In 2009 the Paladins ranked #20 in the nation in scoring offense and the team was 25th in scoring in 2010 under Head Coach Bobby Lamb. Elliott had been retained by new Furman Head Coach Bruce Fowler in December.

In 2008, Elliott coached All-Southern Conference performer Adam Mims, who caught a team best 58 passes, and David Hendrix, who set a freshman record with 46 catches.

Mims continued to flourish under Elliott’s guidance and finished his career in 2010 with 198 career catches for 2433 yards. His reception total was third best, and his yardage total was seventh best among active FCS players at the conclusion of the 2010 season.

Elliott is married to the former Tamika Whitner of Spartanburg, SC.