It might seem odd to see a defensive coordinator for a team that reached the College Football Playoff semifinals to take a new job.

Penn State defensive coordinator Tom Allen has agreed to take the same position at Clemson, the school announced on Tuesday. Allen, who just finished his first season as Penn State's defensive coordinator and linebackers coach,

Penn State has officially lost its defensive coordinator. Tom Allen, after one just season with the Nittany Lions, was formally named Clemson’s new defensive coordinator on Tuesday afternoon.

After a successful 2024–25 campaign, Penn State is losing defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Tom Allen after just one season. The 54-year-old left State College on Monday after the Nittany Lions' loss to Notre Dame in the College Football Playoff last week, and was officially named the Clemson Tigers' defensive coordinator on Wednesday.

Clemson has hired Penn State defensive coordinator Tom Allen for the same role with the Tigers, a move that was finalized Tuesday by the school's Board of Trustees Compensation Committee. Allen has more than than three decades of coaching experience,

Tom Allen carries a wealth of coaching experience, dating back to 1992. He will be tasked with reviving Clemson's defense after a rough 2024 season.

Clemson's head coach Dabo Swinney hired Tom Allen as the new defensive coordinator after a thorough selection process, aiming to improve their defense for an upcoming successful season.

CLEMSON, S.C. — Head Coach Dabo Swinney and Clemson Football announced today that Clemson has hired Tom Allen as Defensive Coordinator. The hire was finalized Tuesday by the Clemson University Board of Trustees Compensation Committee.

Allen, who spent seven seasons as Indiana’s head coach, will become the defensive coordinator at Clemson University, according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel’s X post Tuesday. The 54-year-old Allen signed a three-year deal worth $6 million to replace Wes Goodwin, who was fired after three seasons with the Tigers.

Allen has adapted to Penn State and helped it maintain its status as one of the best defenses in the country, while being a driving force as the team plays in the College Football Playoff semifinal against Notre Dame.

Tom Allen served as Penn State's defensive coordinator for one year. He will reportedly be the fourth defensive coordinator hired under Dabo Swinney.

Sources: Clemson is working toward a deal to hire Penn State DC Tom Allen as the school’s new defensive coordinator. He’s the top target and a final decision is expected in the upcoming days. pic.twitter.com/8PLnibXD2j