New offensive line coach? |
CLEMSON – A South Carolina native may be coming home.
Former Vanderbilt head coach Robbie Caldwell, a native of Pageland and a Furman graduate, looks set to replace Brad Scott as Clemson’s offensive line coach. A source has indicated to TigerNet that Caldwell, his wife Nora Lynn and daughter Emsley, 15, will be on campus this afternoon to talk with Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney, who typically likes to bring in a new coach’s family before he announces a hire. Scott, who has been at Clemson for the past 12 seasons, would stay within the Clemson athletic department in an undetermined capacity. Caldwell was named Vanderbilt’s head coach last July 14th when he was named to replace close friend Bobby Johnson, who had coached at Vanderbilt since December of 2001. Caldwell had served on the Vanderbilt staff since accepting Johnson's offer prior to the 2002 season. Until becoming head coach, Caldwell was assistant head coach and offensive line mentor under Johnson. During his career, Caldwell has coached in 11 postseason bowl games and has coached six conference-winning squads. Five of his pupils have earned All-America recognition; and seven have been picked in the NFL draft. Caldwell traces his coaching roots back to Furman - his coaching style is influenced by two former Paladin head coaches, Art Baker and Dick Sheridan. As an undersized, overachieving center, Caldwell lettered three years at Furman playing for Baker. As a senior in 1975, he earned Furman's MVP Award as an offensive captain. The following year, he was Baker's graduate assistant at Furman. Two years later, he began an eight-year tenure as offensive line coach at Furman under Sheridan. During that period, the Paladins won six Southern Conference championships, with Caldwell mentoring eight first-team all-conference players and five recipients of the Jacobs Award given to the league's top offensive lineman. Caldwell was one of three current Vanderbilt offensive coaches that joined Sheridan when he became head coach at North Carolina State in 1986. Caldwell served 14 years with the Wolfpack, continuing seven years beyond Sheridan's stay on campus. At North Carolina State, Caldwell tutored the Wolfpack line for 11 years, then added assistant head coaching responsibilities from 1997-99. Fourteen of his North Carolina State pupils were All-Atlantic Coast Conference recipients. From 2000-01, Caldwell coached the University of North Carolina offensive line. The Tar Heels capped their 2001 season with a victory over Auburn in the Peach Bowl. Caldwell graduated with a B.S. degree in Health and Physical Education from Furman in 1976.
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