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Ron West is in his 10th season as an assistant on Tommy Bowden's coaching staff and joins Brad Scott as the only common denominators for the entire Bowden era at Clemson. He has shown his total knowledge of the game, serving as a position coach on both sides of the ball on teams that have finished in the top 25 in the nation. He is just the second assistant coach in Tiger history to serve as a defensive assistant and offensive assistant on top-25 teams.
West is one of the most-experienced and well-rounded coaches on the staff. The 2008 season is his 29th as a Division I assistant coach. He has had 12 years of experience on the defensive side, including seven as a coordinator, and 16 years on the offensive side. That includes five years as an offensive line coach at Clemson, while 2008 marks his fifth year as a defensive coach with the Tigers.
He has helped bring Clemson to new heights, a resurgence similar to the one he helped generate as a player at Clemson in 1977 and 1978. He was a reliable member of the Clemson offensive line under Charley Pell and Danny Ford during his time as a player, helping the Tigers to a 19-4-1 record, two bowl appearances, and two top-20 finishes.
In his nine years at Clemson, the Tigers have won 69 games and played eight bowl games. Clemson has had eight-straight winning seasons, the second-longest streak in school history. He has been on the sidelines for all 133 of Bowden's games as a head coach (Clemson, Tulane).
In 2007, he helped Clemson to a 9-4 record and top-25 finish. The defense was in the top 25 in the nation in all four major categories, including a top-10 finish in scoring defense and total defense.
In 2006, West coached one of Clemson's greatest players in history in Gaines Adams. He became just the second unanimous All-American in school history and was named ACC Defensive Player-of-the-Year. Under West's direction, Adams tied Michael Dean Perry's career record for sacks (28), including 12.5 in 2006, the third-best figure in the nation and second-best in Clemson history. Adams was the #4 overall pick of the 2007 NFL draft.
His 2005 outside linebackers helped Clemson finish in the top 25 in six defensive categories. That included a #11 mark in scoring defense. In 2004, he moved to the defensive line, where he helped Clemson lead the ACC in sacks.
In 1999, West inherited the nation's smallest offensive line and Clemson's youngest starting five interior linemen since 1943. All the offense did was average 403 yards per game, then the third-highest figure in school history, and score 42 touchdowns, fifth-most in Tiger history. His group helped pave the way for an offense that set 26 school records.
The records continued to fall in 2000, as 47 more offensive marks were set, including total offense. Balance was the watchword in 2000, and the play of the offensive line was a key. Clemson was just one of six schools to average at least 200 passing yards and 200 rushing yards.
In 2003, Clemson averaged 420 yards per game, the fourth-highest total in Tiger history. The team's 5.7 yards per play was second-best. The play of the offensive line had much to do with the Tigers setting records for passing yards, completions, and touchdown passes.
West was a member of two Gator Bowl teams as a reserve offensive lineman in 1977 and 1978. As a Tiger, he saw action in over 200 plays on the right side of the offensive line in 1978. He transferred to Clemson from Marion Institute, where he was a junior college All-American.
The Tigers finished 1978 with an 11-1 record and were ranked #6 in the final AP poll. A versatile player, West started two games that year, including one at right guard against Virginia Tech and one at right tackle against Virginia. He spent most of his time as Joe Bostic's backup.
When West first left Clemson, he became a graduate assistant coach at Livingston. He met Bowden shortly thereafter during a four-month stint at East Carolina in the spring, 1980. West went on to coach the offensive line at North Texas in 1980.
In 1981, he joined Texas Tech as an offensive line and special teams coach. He served in that capacity for four years before switching to defense in 1985 as the assistant linebackers coach.
His next stop was Louisiana-Lafayette, where he spent seven years (defensive coordinator, inside linebackers coach). His defenses were among the nation's top 20 in total defense three times.
After leaving Louisiana-Lafayette, he joined Baylor's staff as offensive line coach. The 1994 team was co-winner of the Southwest Conference title. That season, the offensive line helped set the school record for points and touchdowns. In his final year, he served as running-game coordinator.
West joined the Tulane staff in 1997. His influence on the offensive line was felt immediately. The offensive line helped it produce almost 4,700 yards of total offense and a school-record 375 points. The offensive line gave up just 11 sacks.
In 1998, on the way to a 12-0 record, the offensive line helped Tulane become the only school in the nation to average 300 passing yards and 200 rushing yards. The team was among the nation's top 25 in both categories throughout the season.
West and his wife Becky have two children. Brad (25) was a starting linebacker on Appalachian State's 2005 FCS national title team and is now a restricted earnings coach on Jerry Moore's staff. Lori (22) is a student at Tri-County Tech.
