Rich Bisaccia Clemson Hire: Former Packers STC Returns to Tigers After 26 Years

Rich Bisaccia Clemson hire is official as the former Green Bay Packers special teams coordinator returns to the Tigers to replace Will Gilchrist.

CLEMSON, S.C. — The Clemson Board of Trustees' compensation committee finalized the hiring of Rich Bisaccia as the program's new special teams coordinator on Wednesday. Bisaccia, 65, joins Dabo Swinney’s staff after stepping down from the same role with the Green Bay Packers on Feb. 17. This move marks a return to the college ranks for the veteran coach, who spent the last four seasons in Green Bay under Matt LaFleur. The Rich Bisaccia Clemson hire fills the vacancy left by Will Gilchrist, who recently accepted an assistant coaching position at Samford.

Bisaccia arrives in South Carolina with significant NFL experience, including a 7-6 record as the interim head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders in 2021. During that season, he successfully guided the Raiders to a playoff appearance before transitioning into an assistant head coach role in March 2023. His professional tenure spanned over two decades, featuring special teams coordinator stints with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 2002 to 2010, the San Diego Chargers from 2011 to 2012, and the Dallas Cowboys from 2013 to 2017. He also led the Raiders' special teams units from 2018 through 2021.

Historical Ties to the Clemson Program

This appointment represents a homecoming for Bisaccia, who previously served on the Tigers' coaching staff from 1994 to 1998. During that five-year period, he managed both the special teams units and the running backs. In a statement released by the university, Bisaccia noted that the community holds special meaning for his family and expressed a desire to serve the program in any capacity possible. He indicated that the decision to move in a new direction followed a period of reflection over the several weeks preceding his departure from the NFL.

Coach Dabo Swinney revealed that he and Bisaccia had discussed a potential partnership multiple times in the past. Previous attempts to finalize a hire were hindered by timing issues and NCAA regulations regarding on-field coaching limits. However, recent rule changes allowing all staff members to coach on the field facilitated the agreement. Swinney described Bisaccia as one of the premier special teams coaches in the history of the NFL, citing his desire to finish his career at the collegiate level.

Extensive Collegiate Coaching Resume

Beyond his previous work at Clemson, Bisaccia’s resume includes a variety of roles across the college football landscape. His career began with an assistant coaching stint at Wayne State from 1983 to 1987. He later moved to the University of South Carolina, where he worked from 1985 to 1993. Following his first tenure with the Tigers, he spent three seasons at Mississippi from 1999 to 2001 before making the jump to the professional ranks with the Buccaneers.

While Bisaccia moves to the ACC, the Green Bay Packers have already secured his replacement. The NFL franchise hired Cam Achord to lead their special teams. Achord spent the previous two seasons as the assistant special teams coach for the New York Giants and served as the New England Patriots' special teams coordinator from 2020 to 2023. This reshuffling occurs as Swinney also addressed external roster pressures, recently criticizing Ole Miss for what he termed "blatant" tampering regarding a Clemson player in the transfer portal.

Impact on the Tigers Coaching Staff

Bisaccia’s addition brings a veteran presence to a staff that Swinney believes will benefit from his decades of specialized knowledge. The transition follows Bisaccia’s choice to leave the Packers, a decision he reached after taking time to reflect on his career path. His return to the Clemson community aligns with the university's efforts to solidify its special teams performance under the new NCAA coaching rules.

The Tigers' new coordinator will now oversee the development of young athletes in a program he helped lead during the mid-1990s. His extensive background in both the NFC and AFC, combined with his prior knowledge of the South Carolina recruiting landscape, provides a unique foundation for his second stint in the college ranks. As Bisaccia integrates into the current staff, he replaces Gilchrist immediately to begin preparations for the upcoming season.