South Carolina native Xavier Dye joined head coach Tim Beck’s coaching staff as the running backs coach in January 2023.
In his first season at Coastal, the Chanticleer running backs averaged 100 yards rushing per game and ran for 12 touchdowns, led by Braydon Bennett’s 407 yards and five scores.
Dye came to Coastal Carolina after three years on staff at South Florida from 2020-22, where he worked with CCU’s current offensive coordinator Travis Trickett in coaching the wide receivers in 2020 and the tight ends group in 2021-22. He also served as the recruiting coordinator for his last two seasons in Tampa.
In 2022, Dye’s tight ends contributed to major improvements in USF’s total offense (350.9 to 390.8 ypg), rushing offense (158.5 to 197.9 ypg), scoring offense (23.2 to 28.0 ppg), third down conversions (34.3 to 39.1 percent), red zone conversions (76.7 to 85.1 percent), pass efficiency (107.56 to 130.22), and passing touchdowns (6 to 18) from 2021.
He went to USF after serving as the wide receivers coach on head coach Neal Brown’s first staff at West Virginia during the 2019 season, also coaching alongside Trickett, after two years at his alma mater in Clemson.
A native of Greenwood, S.C., Dye served as an offensive graduate assistant coach working with the receiving corps for two years at Clemson from 2017-18, which included future NFL wideouts Tee Higgins, Justyn Ross, and Hunter Renfrow.
Over those two years, the Tigers posted a 27-2 record, won two ACC championships, and made two College Football Playoff appearances, including winning the 2018 College Football Playoff National Championship.
In 2018, the Tigers led the ACC in scoring (44.3 ppg) and total offense (527.2 ypg), ranking No. 4 and No. 3 in the nation, respectively. Clemson was also second in the ACC in rushing offense (248.2 ypg, No. 10 nationally) and third in passing offense (279.0 ypg, No. 23 nationally).
In 2018, Higgins led the league and ranked No. 8 nationally in receiving touchdowns (12) and was No. 6 in the ACC in receiving yards and No. 11 in receptions per game. Ross finished No. 2 in the league in receiving touchdowns and No. 5 in receiving yards.
Higgins and Renfrow were named to the ACC All-Conference second team, while Renfrow was selected for the Burlsworth Trophy (top player who began their career as a walk-on) and the Bowden Award (dedicated to faith, family, friends, and football). Ross was named a Freshman All-American.
In 2017, Clemson had a balanced offensive attack, averaging 194.1 rushing yards per game (No. 35 nationally) and 429.6 yards of total offense (No. 38). The Tigers were No. 32 in scoring offense (33.3), No. 7 in third-down conversion percentage (.463), and No. 17 in first-down offense. Renfrow ranked No. 10 in the ACC in receptions per game, and wide receiver Deon Cain was No. 8 in receiving yards. The duo was named to the ACC All-Conference third team.
Prior to his return to Clemson, Dye served as offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach at Woodmont High School, helping lead the Wildcats to an appearance in the 2016 South Carolina 5A playoffs. He also spent two years at Greenville High School, serving the first year in 2014 as the wide receivers coach before adding offensive coordinator duties in 2015.
He spent the 2013 season at Western Carolina as a defensive quality control coach and an academic counselor.
A dean’s list student at Clemson, Dye played wide receiver for the Tigers from 2007-10 and earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology. A two-year starter (2009-10), he had a receiving touchdown from a quarterback (Kyle Parker), wide receiver (Jacoby Ford), and running back (C.J. Spiller) in 2009, becoming the first Tiger with a receiving touchdown from three different players in the same year, from three different positions.
While a student-athlete at Clemson, Dye was active in community service events and earned on spot on the American Football Coaches Association’s (AFCA) Allstate Good Works Team as well as being named a finalist for the John Wooden Award. He was selected for the FCA Spiritual Award and served as a keynote speaker at numerous functions.
Dye and his wife Kelsye have a daughter named Xara.
Xavier Dye’s Coaching History
2013: Western Carolina (Defensive Quality Control)
2014: Greenville High School (Wide Receivers)
2015: Greenville High School (Offensive Coordinator/Wide Receivers)
2016: Woodmont High School (Offensive Coordinator/Wide Receivers)
2017-18: Clemson (Graduate Assistant – Wide Receivers)
2019: West Virginia (Wide Receivers)
2020: South Florida (Wide Receivers)
2021-22: South Florida (Tight Ends/Recruiting Coordinator)
2023-present: Coastal Carolina (Running Backs)
