The Buddy Teevens Award was created to honor those coaches who’ve been innovators in growing and improving the game of college football. Named after the legendary Dartmouth College coach, the award recognizes outstanding achievement on the field, as well exceptional leadership that leaves a lasting impact on players, other coaches, and the sport at large.

Throughout the season, the Maxwell Football Club will showcase current coaches who have led, innovated, and positively impacted the game in the spirit of Coach Teevens.

Clemson Head Coach Dabo Swinney

Some coaches get players ready for the NFL. Some prepare players for life after football. Only a precious few excel at both. Clemson’s Dabo Swinney is one of those rare gems in the college coaching ranks.

Preparing student-athletes for life has always been as important as winning to Swinney. And he has done a lot of winning during his time as the face of Clemson football.

For the last 17 seasons, Swinney has been an unlikely giant among college football coaches. When he replaced Tommy Bowden midway through the 2008 season, the move was believed to be temporary. Swinney was just a receivers coach at the time of the promotion, so it seemed unlikely his interim title would be removed.

But that’s exactly what happened a few months later, and Swinney has been the head coach ever since.

Under Swinney, Clemson emerged as a perennial national powerhouse. Eight ACC titles, two national championships in 2016 and 2018, 13 straight Top 25 finishes, and 18 first-round NFL Draft picks. You can count on one hand the programs that have matched Clemson’s level of excellence since Swinney succeeded Bowden.

The secret of Swinney’s consistency and success can be explained in many different ways: great recruiter, respected leader, energetic motivator, and builder of a cohesive, family-like culture.

However, when you get right down to it, it’s not that hard to decipher why Swinney has been so good for so long. He cares—deeply—about his players, his assistants, and the entire Clemson community. And that authentic, walk-the-talk dedication continues to be the bedrock of one of college football’s most admired programs.

Nothing encapsulates Swinney and his commitment to his kids better than Clemson’s P.A.W. (Passionate About Winning) Journey, an immersive player development program that’s been preparing student-athletes for life after football since 2016.

P.A.W. Journey is a first-of-its-kind leadership initiative that holistically develops Tiger players through personal growth, life skills, and professional development. This journey readies each athlete to apply his leadership while also challenging himself to seek new victories in his career, community, and household.

The Journey consists of three foundational pillars, each offering a unique pathway for growth:

1. Striped: Uses symposiums and mentorship networks to build confidence, character, and personal growth through overcoming adversity. Learning to lead when it matters is the foundation of this pillar.

2. C.U. In Life: Focuses on the importance of education, empowerment, and engagement by teaching transferable tools necessary for financial well-being, which is especially timely during the NIL era. The global outreach component of this pillar allows players the opportunity to take what they’ve learned to all corners of the world, including South Africa earlier this year.

3. 5th Quarter: Helps Clemson players find purpose and generate passion for all things networking and professional development. This includes micro-internships, career hiring events, and programs that unlock entrepreneurial spirit.

Swinney's Clemson legacy is defined not just by wins, trophies, and titles, but by the lives he's touched and the futures he's shaped. His innovative approach, best encapsulated in the P.A.W. Journey, illustrates his unwavering commitment to developing well-rounded individuals prepared for life beyond the gridiron.

Swinney’s emphasis on personal growth, education, and professional development ensures his players leave Clemson as confident, capable leaders ready to make a positive impact in the world.

Swinney's genuine love for his players transcends the usual coach-athlete relationship. He builds a family, fostering a culture where success is measured not only by wins but by the character and accomplishments of his players off the field. This holistic approach is what sets him apart and makes him one of the most beloved and respected figures in college football.

In an era where the pressure to win often overshadows the importance of personal development, Swinney shines brightly as a beacon of what college sports should aspire to be. His authentic, almost folksy, dedication to his players' all-around success has created a lasting legacy at Clemson, proving that with the right guidance, student-athletes can excel both on the field and in life.

Swinney’s story is a testament to the profound impact a caring and committed coach can have, making him not just a coach, but a true mentor and leader whose impact will be felt for many years to come.