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kiffin to ut

several reports say former oakland coach will be introduced monday as new ut head coach

Seymour Herald/Library Photo

Former Southern Cal assistant and Oakland Raider head coach Lane Kiffin, pictured here during his year and a half stint with the Raiders, is expected to be named the new University of Tennessee head coach at a press conference next week. Photo submitted

By Staff Reports

published: November 26 2008 12:21 AM updated:: December 03 2008 06:52 PM

Several reports Wednesday evening cited sources close to the University of Tennessee football coaching search as having confirmed that former Oakland Raiders head coach Lane Kiffin will be introduced at a news conference as the new Vols’ head coach on Monday, December 1.

Longtime Vols’ head coach Phillip Fulmer is set to coach his final game at Tennessee Saturday against Kentucky.

UT athletic director Mike Hamilton is believed to have been busy negotiating a deal with Kiffin this week. Former Ole Miss head coach Ed Orgeron, who coached with Kiffin at Southern Cal, is rumored to be set to accompany Kiffin to Knoxville as one of his top assistants. Orgeron is widely renowned as a ferocious presence on the college football recruiting trail. Hamilton has stated that the ability to recruit nationally is among the top attributes UT is looking for in a potential head coach.

Kiffin, a 33-year old former college quarterback at Fresno State, has also been linked to openings this fall at Clemson and Washington. His father, Monte Kiffin, is a veteran college and NFL coach who now serves as the defensive coordinator for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The younger Kiffin is primarily known as an NFL coach as well. He made headlines early this year when he was fired by controversial Oakland Raiders owner Al Davis after the two reportedly had different ideas about the direction of the franchise. Kiffin was 1-3 this year in his four games as the Raiders coach. He was 4-12 in 2007 in his one and only full season as a head coach at any level.

At 31 years of age when first hired by the Raiders on January 23, 2007, Kiffin became the youngest head coach in NFL history and the youngest since 1969 when Hall of Famer John Madden, at the age of 32, was promoted by Davis to take over head coaching duties in Oakland.

Kiffin started his fast climb up the coaching ladder as a quarterbacks coach at his college alma mater in 1997. He moved on to coach the offensive line at Colorado State (1999-2000) before joining Pete Carroll's staff at Southern Cal in 2001 where his star really began to rise.

Kiffin was initially the tight ends coach at USC and became the Trojans' wide receivers coach the following year. He eventually became USC’s passing game coordinator and recruiting coordinator, and then replaced Norm Chow as Southern Cal’s offensive coordinator in 2005.

While at USC, Kiffin helped recruit such national prospects as Steve Smith, Dwayne Jarrett, Patrick Turner and Mike Williams. Kiffin helped USC amass the number one-ranked recruiting class in America during his two seasons as the Trojans recruiting coordinator.

When Tennessee makes the hiring official, Kiffin will become the youngest head coach in all of Div. 1-A football, beating out Northwestern's Pat Fitzgerald by six months.

More details on the Vols ongoing search for a new head football coach will be available in the coming days at seymourherald.com.

User Comments

#1 Jon Seymore commented, on November 26, 2008 at 2:12 a.m.:

I only hope that this is true. Kiffing could put together a great staff and hopefully excite recruits!

#2 Harold Bare commented, on November 26, 2008 at 9:16 a.m.:

Mike Leach hopefully.

#3 Sam commented, on November 26, 2008 at 9:40 a.m.:

Thursday evening huh? Interesting considering this is posted on Wednesday....

#4 Caleb Jones commented, on November 26, 2008 at 9:49 a.m.:

Kiffin would be great. I hope he keeps coach Chavis in place. He gets the job done and we need some stabilty for our current recruiting class.

#5 Richard commented, on November 26, 2008 at 9:51 a.m.:

This would be fantastic.
Lane Kiffin as head coach, Orgeron as OC and Monte Kiffin as Def Cord. That would be so solid!

#6 Ben commented, on November 26, 2008 at 11:06 a.m.:

I concur that keeping Chavis would be outstanding. Chavis, Kiffin, and Orgeron will make a great team if could happen.

#7 La Fan commented, on November 26, 2008 at 11:36 a.m.:

Isn't Orgeron a defensive guy? This is the 1st I've heard as offensive coord. Kiffin would be a great hire.

#8 Rich commented, on November 26, 2008 at 11:41 a.m.:

Great choice for your program. Coach Kiffin will bring a new vision. I will be watching from Oak-town with intrestest

#9 Josh commented, on November 26, 2008 at 11:54 a.m.:

Orgeron is an idoit, so there no way that he would be considered as a Offensive coordinator. Kiffin could/would be the OC. Orgeron is a defensive guy and he would hopefully be the D-line coach like he is now at New Orleans. In case you guys dont remember he was terrible at Ole Miss as a head coach. He is a good recruiter and motivator but he needs to be limited on making to many decisions.

#10 Don commented, on November 26, 2008 at 12:50 p.m.:

Kiffin was my #1 choice all along. He will bring youth and new idea`s. He is excellent at recruiting. I have no problem with oregeron as an assistant coach he did a good job of recuiting at ole miss and should be an excellent recruiter at Tennessee!

#11 Mike commented, on November 26, 2008 at 2:23 p.m.:

Recruiting is everything at Tennessee! Fulmer proved that, it was his recruiting early on that helped win the NC...not his game-day coaching. As long as Kiffin can recruit and has the sense to surround himself with good coaches then he'll workout fine!

#12 Anonymous commented, on November 26, 2008 at 2:40 p.m.:

ESPN is delivering camera's to his house in Knoxville

#13 pooperscooper commented, on November 26, 2008 at 2:48 p.m.:

not only is tennessee hiring a 33 year old coach with no ut ties and college head coaching experience but the seymour herald was the first in town to report the story late last night. the world is coming to an end.

#14 hey commented, on November 26, 2008 at 4:01 p.m.:

hey why don't we give the man a chance to see what he can do. Let's not jump all over him before he's even officially hired...

#15 me111 commented, on November 26, 2008 at 4:08 p.m.:

He will use this job as a stepping stone. Won't be there for long.

#16 tatbow commented, on November 26, 2008 at 4:48 p.m.:

Wow Hard times at Rocky Top
I cant beleive a 33 year old kid who is out of work is the only person that Tennessee can find.

#17 UT fan commented, on November 26, 2008 at 7:33 p.m.:

I think kiffin wouldn't be to bad as a head coach. He had problems with Oakland but there's not alot of coaches that could change that franchise around right now. One thing UT does not need to do is lose john chavis at def. Coord. We have always had a solid defense with him there and it would be stupid to change the def. It wasn't his fault the offense failed about every time they were on the field. Like I said kiffin isn't a bad choice, but that and the offensive coord. Should be changed. The only thing that has worried me about losing fulmer is that he was a very good recruiter.

#18 tigerfan23 commented, on November 26, 2008 at 10:17 p.m.:

i hope this is true, it leaves venables or foster wide open for us

#19 IronMan SC commented, on November 26, 2008 at 10:41 p.m.:

No don't it...he's a fraud & he will bring you down even further..Coach O is the man but the only reason Kiffin is where he is at is because Carroll's wife used to babysit LAME....bad dude.. bad dude

#20 John Doe commented, on November 26, 2008 at 10:47 p.m.:

Its not true. He is a def canidate but has not been decleard the new coach. However he is the front runner out of Brian Kelly of Cincinnati, Gary Patterson of TCU and Tim Brewster of Minnesota.

#21 The Crew commented, on November 26, 2008 at 11:41 p.m.:

If this is true.....Not sure Kiffin is the man. He is unproven, but we'll wait and see. I sure hope he can bring some excitement back to the program and get the recruits needed to get TN back to the top. If he could bring his Dad along, then we might have something.

#22 HARRY BAWLS commented, on November 27, 2008 at midnight:

KIFF IS A JOKE--------HORRIBLE PLAY CALLER

#23 Hard Way commented, on November 27, 2008 at 12:55 a.m.:

I am a USC follower for 28 years. You don't want Kiffin running your program. You want him running your rivals program so he will run that into the ground. Kiffin is Pete Carroll's Godson, and that is the only reason Pete gave him the OC role without any previous experience. Lane was famous for building antagonistic relationships with the players and other assistants. He left USC for the Raiders after losing the Rosebowl on a 4th and 2 Iso call where Reggie Bush was not on the field, so the Free saftey was able to cheat up and stuff the play. He was a tireless recruiter (no doubt the USC / Pete Carroll calling card helped), but his playcalling was questionable and player development non-existent. You'd be better off hiring his Dad.

#24 uscbred commented, on November 27, 2008 at 5:30 p.m.:

The only thing worse than Kiffin for UT would be Gens. US Grant and William Tecumseh Sherman riding into town reincarnated

#25 Richmond commented, on November 27, 2008 at 10:39 p.m.:

Kiffin is the best coach in the entire universe and will bring UT back to prominence! Don't listen to the haters and the backass country funkers from Bama, Florida and Georgia -- they're freaking rednecks, man! Long live the Kiffin dynasty! From LA to Rocky Top!! Kiffin is the man!!! Mike Hamilton is in line for a cabinet seat with Obama with this move...pure genius and brillance!!! These guys make me moist.

Kiffin's plenty experienced -- have you seen his wife? Hot doggy and hubba hubba hubba!! Layla...you got me on my knees...Layla.

#26 Chuck from Woodbury commented, on November 27, 2008 at 10:51 p.m.:

Richmond, you've got to stop smoking your socks man. UT is in big trouble. I heard that Kiffin plays switch em and then smells his fingers...it's true. UT should have hired Urban Meyer. I read in a Florida paper he was disappointed the UT job wasn't open a few years ago. He was stating as saying winning at Florida is too easy...he's looking for a real challenge.

Layla is hot though! Whoo!!!

#27 The Anti Vol commented, on November 28, 2008 at 5:38 p.m.:

Recruiting is NOT everything at Tennessee. If it were, you'd be playing in a BCS game this year. The last few recruiting classes have been rated high. Player development is a problem. How does Brandon Warren go from a freshman All-American to being a non-factor? That's what's been your problem.

#28 Billy Bob commented, on November 29, 2008 at 12:18 a.m.:

I agree with "The Anti Vol". I believe that it is poor coaching But with Fulmer gone I think UT has a bright future ahead. Also I think that if he brings in some good people such as Orgeron and Monte Kiffin, they will also help UT. Next Season will probably be a rebuilding season but 2010 will be pretty good.

#29 Punkybrewster82 commented, on November 29, 2008 at 12:54 a.m.:

I don't think next year should be about rebuilding. Remember, Fulmer brought in a couple top-five ranked recruiting classes along mixed with a couple so-so classes over the last four or five years. You can't tell it from the way this year's team has played but there is some real talent on that roster. Just look at it. I'm sure Kiffin and Orgeron have been pouring over it the past couple days and thinking that it could sure as hell be a lot worse. I think Fulmer is leaving Kiff a team that can compete for a title really quick. I'll miss ole' Phil but I'm pumped about them bringing in new life to the program. Go Vols.

#30 Are You Serious commented, on November 29, 2008 at 5:26 p.m.:

Give it a break with some New Coaches and yes Chavis "byebye" Tennessee may finally get their heads outta their ass and play some real football. You can't win games if you so not have a good solid defense. Certainly can't win with NO offense I for one am looking forward to the cleaning house at UT. Stop the playing in the old days its time for New blood with some New game. All I have to say like it or not they need to get rid of the whole damn pack.

#31 volmaniac commented, on December 2, 2008 at 9:31 p.m.:

kiffin is the man and he will win ten his first year and be competein for a title his second garunteed
btw kiffins wife is one hot momma