On Saturday, Jan. 26, Pelham High School held a special night to commemorate its sporting legends. Clemson Tigers head coach Dabo Swinney was one of the 20 honorees inducted to the inaugural bracket of the Pelham Athletics Hall of Fame.
From Pelham to Glory: Dabo Swinney’s Journey Home to the Hall of Fame
Swinney is now living in Clemson, South Carolina, and talked about how his childhood in Pelham inspired the person he is now. “I’ve experienced a lot of life, but everything for me comes back to Pelham,” he said. “Every time I come back here — it doesn’t matter how far removed I am — it feels like yesterday.”
Due to financial problems, Swinney lost his ancestral home in his youth. In 2020, he reclaimed his childhood home. Swinney got emotional after this incident: “It was taken away from us, and it was one of those traumatic moments in my life. I bought it and framed the deed and put my dad’s picture in there.”
Swinney doesn’t forget the role of his wife, Kathleen. They have been happily together since their time at Pelham High School. “She has been a rock in my life for a long time,” he said. They have three sons.
Pelham taught Swinney valuable life skills that defined his career. “Pelham gave me toughness, a belief in myself, and just a competitive fire,” He said. Swinney still remembers his coaches and mentors, including Billy Tohill, Jim Vakakes, and Paul Kellogg. They had important roles in defining his persona and athletic career.
Coach Tohill inspired him to pursue football at the University of Alabama, which became the career-defining moment of his life. Swinney’s hard work and commitment, alongside coach Tohill’s encouragement, earned a walk-on scholarship at Alabama. This was the turning point to becoming a two-time national championship-winning coach.
KEEP READING: Dabo Swinney Passes Bobby Bowden, Becomes ACC’s All-Time Winningest Coach
Pelham High School also helped Swinney tackle personal obstacles. “All I did was compete,” he said. “So, I learned how to compete at the highest level.” He learned the spirit of competition in Pelham fields, and it became a foundation of his success.
Swinney’s induction into the Pelham Athletics Hall of Fame promises that his name and contributions will be acknowledged indefinitely in his hometown. “I didn’t think there would ever be a Pelham Hall of Fame. So the fact that we have this means that we have arrived in Pelham, Alabama,” Swinney said.
College Football Network has you covered with the latest from the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, SEC, and every Group of Five conference and FBS Independent program.
