• Named as Clemson’s running backs coach on Feb. 5, 2021.
• Said Head Coach Dabo Swinney upon Spiller’s hire: “He is one of the greatest ambassadors that we’ve had for our program for a long time and now for him to be able to come back and be able to sow seeds into these young men and teach all the things he’s learned throughout his career, there’s not a guy on this staff that’s more committed and more ALL IN for Clemson than C.J. Spiller, that’s for sure… To have C.J. out on the road recruiting and have him leading these young men day in and day out is something I’m really, really excited about.”
• Served as an unpaid coaching intern during the 2020 season
• In 2020, assisted a coaching staff that helped Travis Etienne become a consensus All-American as an all-purpose/athlete selection, becoming the 29th player ever to earn consensus All-America honors at Clemson and the school’s 31st total consensus selection. Spiller and Etienne comprise two of Clemson’s three all-time consensus All-Americans at running back.
• While on staff in an unpaid role, watched Etienne break Clemson single-season records for a running back in receptions (48) and receiving yards (588) and tie the running back mark for 100-yard receiving games (two) while adding two receiving touchdowns. Etienne joined Stanford’s Christian McCaffrey, Oklahoma’s Joe Mixon and Penn State’s Saquon Barkley as the only Power Five players to post 900 rushing yards and 500 receiving yards in a single season since 2015.
• Stands as one of the most decorated and beloved players in Clemson history from his four-year career as a running back for the Tigers from 2006-09.
• Was selected for induction into the College Football Hall of Fame as a member of the Class of 2021, earning the distinction in only his second year of eligibility.
• Became Clemson’s eighth inductee in the College Football Hall of Fame, joining four coaches (John Heisman, Jess Neely, Frank Howard and Danny Ford) and three players (Banks McFadden, Terry Kinard and Jeff Davis). At the time of his selection, Spiller became one of only 1,038 players and 223 coaches have been immortalized in the Hall, putting him in the top 0.02 percent of those who have played or coached the sport.
• Inducted into both the Clemson Athletic Hall of Fame and South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame in 2020 for his immense contribution to athletics at both the university and state levels.
• His historic college career culminated with a senior season in 2009 in which he finished sixth in Heisman Trophy voting after winning ACC Player of the Year and being selected as a unanimous first-team All-American. He became the first player in the history of the Walter Camp All-America team to be first or second-team All-American at two positions in the same year.
• Still holds ACC single-season and career records for all-purpose yards, posting 2,680 in 2009 and finishing his career with 7,588, which was second-most in FBS history at the time of his graduation.
• Was one of the most exciting players in the sport’s history, as he recorded 21 career touchdowns covering at least 50 yards and had an ACC-record eight kick returns for touchdowns in his career.
• Was also a three-time All-American in track and first-team strength All-American in 2008.
• Entered the coaching ranks after an eight-year NFL career from 2010-17 after being the ninth overall selection in the 2010 NFL Draft by the Buffalo Bills.
• His NFL career included tenures with the Bills, New Orleans Saints, Seattle Seahawks, New York Jets and Kansas City Chiefs, and he was a Pro Bowl selection in 2012. He and college teammate Jacoby Ford remain the only Clemson products ever to record multiple rushing touchdowns, multiple receiving touchdowns and multiple kick return touchdowns during an NFL career.
• Graduated from Clemson with a degree in sociology in three-and-a-half years on Dec. 17, 2009, receiving a standing ovation from the Clemson University Board of Trustees, the first such occurence for a student-athlete.
