Report: DC Kevin Steele out at Clemson

[Coach Hank Crisp]

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Clemson defensive coordinator Kevin Steele will not return next season, according to reports in The Greenville News and TigerIllustrated.com.

Steele has served as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach since 2009, and is considered one of the ACC's better recruiters. But Clemson's defensive performance in 2011 was less than ideal, coming to a head in the record-breaking 70-33 Orange Bowl loss to West Virginia.

No defense in bowl history has allowed 70 points in a game, especially on a national stage like the Orange Bowl. As West Virginia rolled off touchdown after touchdown - including five second-quarter scores - Steele stood on the sideline as the center of attention for an angry and frustrated fan base.

The Tigers ranked 81st nationally in scoring defense (allowing 29.2 points per game), only better than Duke and Maryland in the ACC.

Steele is considered one of the bright defensive minds in the game, serving as executive head coach and linebackers' coach for Bobby Bowden at Florida State and two season's on Nick Saban's Alabama staff before arriving at Clemson.

[Catch Prothro]

Yeah, I kinda expected this after that bowl game.

[pmull]

You can't let someone ring up 70 on you and expect to keep your job.

[cbbama99]

I hate it for Kevin, but it was probably inevitable. The bowl game of course was horrendous, but Clemson gave up a lot of points this year during the regular season as well. Gave up 27 to Wofford (?), 24 to the barn, 30 to FSU, 45 to Maryland (?), 38 to UNC, 31 to GT, 28 to Wake, 37 to NCSt, 34 to USCe, and then 70 to WVU. For the year they gave up 410 points. Not good.

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