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New UT head coach, Lane Kiffin, talks about his experience recruiting and what his plan is for UT recruitment. Watch »
Video
New UT head coach, Lane Kiffin, talks about his experience and growing up learning the game. Watch »
With an eye to the future, a tip of the cap to the past and a few quips mixed in, Tennessee introduced Lane Kiffin as its new head football coach Monday afternoon at a press conference inside Neyland Stadium.
Athletic director Mike Hamilton hailed the 33-year-old former Oakland Raiders head coach and Southern California offensive coordinator as an energetic coach and a charismatic recruiter.
"He has made a significant impression on me in the short time I have known him," Hamilton said, "and I know he will have the same effect on the entire Volunteer family in short order."
Kiffin spent Sunday in Knoxville meeting with his new team and contacting recruits. Before leaving on a recruiting trip Monday evening, Kiffin told media and boosters gathered in the Wolf-Kaplan Center he would work for his new football program.
"I want the Tennessee family to know this is what I'm going to give you: I'm going to roll my sleeves up and go to work," he said. "I'm not promising you how many wins we're going to have, how many championships . . . But no one's going to outwork us. No one's going to outwork me as a head coach. No one's going to outwork our staff that we put together. That's the promise I'm giving you. The wins will come after that."
Kiffin signed a memorandum of understanding Sunday morning, which included several items that will be included in his finished contract:
n Kiffin's deal runs through 2014 and averages $2.375 million over the six-year deal. He will earn $2 million this season.
n Tennessee would have to pay $7.5 million to buy out Kiffin's contract in the next two years. That sum drops to $5 million in 2013.
n Kiffin would owe UT $1 million if he left in 2009. That sum drops by $200,000 each year over the course of his contract.
According to Hamilton, negotiations began with a six-year deal.
Kiffin replaces Phillip Fulmer, who was fired Nov. 3 after 16-plus seasons at UT in which he guided the Vols to two SEC championships, a BCS national championship and 152 wins.
Kiffin acknowledged Fulmer several times Monday, saying he'd like to develop a relationship with his predecessor at some point in the future. He also embraced Tennessee's tradition and the expectations of competing for championships.
"The bar here is extremely high," Kiffin said. "I love it. If the bar wasn't there, I wouldn't want to be here. Coach Fulmer's done an unbelievable job. Remarkable. One of the greatest runs in college football. That's the truth. Like I said, I'm here to continue that and see what we can do."
Four assistant coaches - Greg Adkins, Stan Drayton, Jason Michael and Latrell Scott - have been retained for at least the short term. Kiffin said those coaches will be on the road recruiting and will be evaluated during the process.
Kiffin also said he will interview those four as well as other candidates to fill out his staff. Only 29-year-old former South Carolina quarterbacks coach and recruiting coordinator David Reaves, who is Kiffin's brother-in-law, has been officially hired. His position is to be determined.
Kiffin could perhaps even serve as his own offensive coordinator. In Oakland, he called offensive plays before turning over those duties to an assistant during the preseason this year.
"The only way I'm not going to call the plays, it's got to be somebody that I feel great with, that I have a relationship with already that I can really trust," he said.
UT's four defensive coaches were told Sunday they would not be retained. Kiffin said multiple times Monday that decision was not based on his evaluation of longtime defensive coordinator John Chavis and his staff as coaches, but that he had other coaches in mind.
That could include Kiffin's father, Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin.
ESPN reported Sunday that the elder Kiffin, who makes more than $2 million in Tampa, would join his son's staff at UT. That move likely would not be announced until after Tampa Bay's season is finished.
Still, the financial resources are there to aggressively pursue assistants. Hamilton said that his new head coach has been given "significantly" more money to hire a staff than the $1.935 million UT paid its nine assistants this year.
"Suffice it to say it's aggressive," Hamilton said. "There's no doubt if he lands his first wave of folks he's interested in, it'll have an impact."
Kiffin said piecing together a new staff would take time.
"When it's all said and done, you'll be extremely happy with the staff that comes here," he said. "Give us time on it, and understand it's most important that we do it right, not that we do it fast."
The way Kiffin handled Monday's introduction already made an impact on at least one of his new players.
"(Kiffin) knows how much we love Coach Fulmer and his staff," said linebacker Nick Reveiz, who attended Monday's announcement with several teammates and his father, former UT kicker Fuad Reveiz. "He definitely won me over talking about the respect he has for people in the past and the people who are here now. That's definitely what made me buy in."
Kiffin's nod to Tennessee traditions - and a quip about SEC East rival Florida - could help some others buy in, too.
"I'm really looking forward to embracing some of the great traditions at the University of Tennessee, for instance the Vol Walk, running through the T, singing 'Rocky Top' all night long after we beat Florida next year. It's going to be a blast," Kiffin said, drawing cheers from boosters in the crowd.
"That line was Mike's idea, by the way. All right Urban?" Kiffin said, referencing Gators coach Urban Meyer.
Kiffin also spoke candidly about his time in Oakland, where he compiled a 5-15 record before being fired by eccentric owner Al Davis earlier this season.
"To go be a head coach in the NFL and deal with the personalities in the NFL and the players and to deal with a completely dysfunctional franchise, that's something that's really valuable," Kiffin said, drawing laughs. "That wasn't a joke. You can't go to school and learn crisis management like going there."
Now, though, Kiffin said he plans to be at Tennessee "for a long time" and doesn't see himself returning to the NFL. His wife, Layla, attended Monday's announcement. The couple has two daughters, Landry, 3, and Pressley, 2, and is expecting a third child in January.
The idea of raising his family in Knoxville, coupled with UT's resources and ability to recruit nationally, ultimately led Kiffin to accept the job.
"Everything's in place," he said. "We don't need another building. We don't need another weight. We've got enough here to win."
Tennessee's signing class for 2012
Tennessee 60, Connecticut 57 men's…
Tennessee 69, South Carolina 57 men's…
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Comments » 184
Jankypoo writes:
WOOOHOOOO!!!!!!
spoonerism writes:
That's freakin' awesome!
What a cool guy - I am already proud to have him as our next coach.
That's exactly what we've been needing. A shot in the arm to the program.
OakyVol09 writes:
Do I really have to wait until next year?! When does spring practice start? Go Vols!
elsinoresam writes:
Shot of vitamin "O" !!
tngivem6 writes:
Violation..how?..didn't hear any names mentioned, just location..what violation..
oh man...here we go already..
BillsBrother writes:
We better take this poster serious, gents.
If anyone knows how to commit a violation it would be Bama. (They are not so good at figuring out how to minimize sanctions by self reporting, though.)
bclay1012 writes:
do a little research before making accusations....
if you are referring to him making phone calls to recruits over the weekend.... he took the NCAA test and was cleared to start recruiting. he even said that in the press conference today......
VolMoment writes:
He could make 121 violation and not catch up with Alabama. Alabama fans made posters about Fulmer. If their preacher turned a decon in who stole, I guess they would have run the preacher out of town. Oh wait a minute, you would have to go to church to do that. Anybody with an attitude that cheating is ok and blast the person calling their hand could not go to church and is not an upright citizen, just a redneck from Alabama. See guys they are already thinking about losing to UT.
tuscavol writes:
I guess the ole "Ball Coach" will get what he wants. First of all, you have to question his motives for making such a ridiculous statement. Second, this is not Lane Kiffin's first rodeo. He has recruited in the NCAA before now and I'm certain that he knows the rules. Surely he wouldn't get up in front of the country and the NCAA and announce that he contacted a recruit unless he knew he had all his bases covered. Lets pray he knew better...Go Vols!!!!!
alavolfan writes:
Nope, he's already taken the recruiting test. Must be a good hire if the other schools are getting worried already
jasvol writes:
bama987 violation? You mean the one that will occur when Florida beats the phooey out of you, Alabama, this weekend!
BRVol writes:
I have to admit I'm slightly excited... Ask me how I feel a year from now. People do jump on the ole band wagon quickly. I just hope they're right. GO VOLS!
jasvol writes:
'phooey'. Can the newspaper god who changed my word come up with a better one than what you call a soiled baby diaper? please.
BillsBrother writes:
I admit that Lane Kiffin was my last choice of all the "candidates".
After today's press conference and with Daddy K coming aboard, I am looking forward to three season football again!
1) Recruiting Season
2) Spring football season
3) Football Season
FWBVol writes:
I love the way Lane Kiffin embraces the history of Tennessee football and the traditions that are special to UT. When he said in the press conference that he wanted to bring in a new mindset, he did so while pointing out that was not meant to be an indictment on the program under Phillip Fulmer in recent years.
He seems to honor UT football by building on the foundations laid by all of the great Volunteer players and coaches of years gone by.
I believe Mike Hamilton hired the best man for the job of taking Tennessee football back to the top.
Welcome to Big Orange Country Coach Lane Kiffin!!!
LifetimeVolFan98 writes:
OK, so he slipped up and said he was getting on a plane and heading to Memphis to talk to a No. 1 recruit - he never said the recruits name and didn't discuss it any further - no foul, no harm.
Now - go back to "bummerville" and be ready to be leveled by FLA this Sat. Bama comes back to earth on Sat and Satan's run at a perfect season is over.
FLA - 44
Bama - 17
Titan writes:
I hope he decides to keep the game maxims.
chrisw2967 writes:
looks like kiffin is getting ready to kick it up a notch
chrisw2967 writes:
I say Fla can name their score
Bama-17 if they can score 17
blitzshoot writes:
Can't help but to hope he wins. Seems like a decent guy. Go get'em.
derkum writes:
That's a smart opinion to hold, Kosmo, but we cannot discount the impressive college background that he brings with him. Kiffin worked for Carroll, head of what is arguably the most powerful program in college football, a man who also didn't fare too well in the NFL during his time as the Patriots coach.
The worst could turn out to be a situation like Weis at ND, Shula at Bama, Petrino (currently) at Arkansas, among others. The best? Carroll at USC and (a parallel that I haven't seen too much around here) Tressel at OSU. He came in guarunteeing a win against Michigan 301 days after he took office. He came up with that win.
orangesox writes:
Nice.
tntorbett writes:
Ever since it was announced that Fulmer wouldn't be back, I've been wanting the University to hire Kiffin. I couldn't believe when they actually did. This guy is absolutely the best hire we could make. Leach's offense is a gimmick, Kelly's winning in the dominant Conf. USA.
Honestly people, Give Kiffin time & this University will once again be a National threat. He's young, that's good: he'll be able to relate well to the players he's recruiting. Here's the thing, He has a system, a plan, a goal, & is determined & confident enough to achieve it. If He says he will not be outworked, then let him work & sit back & enjoy.
Coach, & Kiffin family Welcome to Tennessee. The Big Orange Nation is behind you 100%. Thank You for coming & congrats. Lookin' forward to seeing your team on the field.
tmccurrie writes:
Jumping on the "Ole Band Wagon" again. You guys are going to be in for a real shocker. Remember...this is the SEC Football not the Pac Ten and the Westcoast wussies. At USC he was able to run over the teams of the PAC 10 due to the weakness of the league from top to bottom. Not here!!!
I'm a big UT and Phil Fulmer fan. One more year with Phil and Dave working to develop the offense and John running that SUPER DEFENSE, we would be walkig away with the SEC Crown not to mention a BCS bowl bid.
I don't think Lane was the right choice. He does not have the mental toughness to win in the SEC and he does not have the one important factor that everyone has forgotten about...PETE CARROLL.:-)
Hey Hamilton...Lane's gonna need more than just SWAGGER to win in the SEC. And if he doesn't win...your HEAD should be the first on the choppin' blocks with Phil replacing you as AD.:-)
The_Mayor writes:
WTF?
http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football...
NoogaVol55 writes:
Wow!! I am not even sure how to respond to this. So under Phil and Clawson's guidance, UT would win the SEC next year??? Just for giggles, who would quarterback that team? Please God do not say Crompton. Our offense was almost dead last this year..and you think it would contend for a NC next year?? You have gone off the reservation.
And I am not trying to compare the Pac 10 to the SEC or Big 12...but when USC walked through their conference, didn't they stomp Oklahoma, Michigan in their bowl games? And hasn't UT lost their last two efforts against Pac 10 foes.
I can't believe I just responded to this. I feel dumber already and am afraid that I have wasted 5 minutes of my life that I will never get back.
Timed_vol (Inactive) writes:
whoa big boy, settle down. I'm a Phil fan too, but...
1) USC kicked every SEC team's butt they played. To me, USc is very much like an SEC team.
2) Phil lost his touch in these key areas:
-game management. he got too cnoservative, when he needed to be more assertive
-Recruiting the skill positions; look at our QB meltdown. Not a first-stringer out there
-Recruiting DT's. HOw many times have we whined about the lack of stud DT's??
I think Lane can and will win in the SEC. Problem is, will it be enough?? There are pissed LSU fans right now....last year, UF fans were upset, and if UF beats Bama, there will be ticked off Bama fans.
Phil had a great chance to redeem himself this season. He and Cut had built up some pride again, but the lack of a quality QB did 'em in.
thevoice writes:
Hi Nick Saban and Urban Meyer. Are you guys trembling yet? As soon as your lovefest in Atlanta is over, you best start preparing for the Vols. I hear a choo-choo train a comin'. And it's getting louder by the day. I think it may make a stop in Gainesville and Tuscaloosa next year.
thevoice writes:
Oh, and before that train comes, you better lock up your borders and hold onto that talent. We're getting them too.
Regulator writes:
That comment from Spurrier was what, in olden days, was known as the first volley. I'm certain there were no violations, just a well placed dig from an old pro of well placed digs.
thevoice writes:
Kiffin stole Spurrier's QB coach and best recruiter.
Coyoteuglyvol writes:
You said yesterday that Adkins was gone. Do you guys even have a clue to what is going on?? Of course, Dave Hooker contributed to that report so I'm sure he was the one that was wrong on Adkins.
utmdm writes:
The Bama test is how much money you can cram in the bag.
VOLsoldier writes:
Exactly the kind of comment you would expect from a Bama guy. That rumor was started by Spurrier and it is just a rumor. Kiffin had NCAA clearance before making his first phone call on Sunday. Assuming you can read...check out the link. It should clear things up for you moron.
http://www.sportsline.com/collegefoot...
asleep#212036 writes:
I live in Alabama and I know for sure that the Gators are not unbeatable. Nick Saban will have the Tide ready, I just don't know if their offense can score enough against Florida's under-rated defense to keep the game close. If they can, look out in the 4th quarter! You don't want in a slugfest with Alabama.
BigOrangeinCharge writes:
Carroll's assistants at USC haven't fared too well in jobs elsewhere.
Ed Oregeron went 0 for the SEC to close out his 3 year joke at Ole Miss, where he was even more embarrassing off the field than on it. He would bring in top recruiting classes, only to run half of them off during practice or have them ruled ineligible.
Norm Chow left USC to coach the Titans' offense and hopefully land a head coaching job somewhere, but he wound up getting fired and is now offensive coordinator at UCLA.
Some of Carroll's position coaches have left to take similar jobs in the NFL, but only his former DL coach, Jethro Franklin, has had any real success.
Then, of course, there's Kiffin, who went bust in the NFL, but gets a chance to redeem himself here. By most accounts his youth and attitude will serve him much better in college, where he gets to do the one thing he's proven he can do: recruit.
It's silly now that some people on here think that failing as an NFL coach means Kiffin is somehow destined for greatness. People forget that the Raiders were laughed at for even hiring Kiffin, then a fairly obscure assistant from USC, to become the youngest head coach in NFL history. People scratched their heads as to how someone so unqualified could ever get that job!
Well, he only got the Oakland job because their first dozen choices turned them down and they couldn't get anybody else! Like a high school kid who gets promoted to manager at the local Burger King after everyone quits, Kiffin fell into it.
And guess what? He was a total flop! That is a black mark on his resume, not a plus! He was in way over his head and it was obvious to everyone. But rather than hone up to this and resign from a situation he wanted out of, he held Al Davis' feet to the fire and started intentionally blowing games with 76 yard FG attempts to force Davis to pay the buyout money Kiffin so coveted.
Kiffin's young, energetic, and charismatic, and the son of a highly regarded coach who's only proven he can recruit and manipulate the media. That's it. People should quit pretending that he's an automatic upgrade from Fulmer or in the league of Meyer, Saban, etc. I hope he turns out to be all that, but as of right now he's just not.
woodwr#217203 writes:
Who else would retain the guys coaching the positions that failed UT this fall, and replace the guys coaching the positions which delivered for UT this fall????
Who else would replace the 50 year old successful DC with a guy old enough to be his father? Either of their father's?
Some Team will get 10-15 years of stunning defense from Coach Chavis; how many years will UT get from the guy who is already over 65?
southernson writes:
super defense?? Ever heard of 3rd and CHAVIS? That tearm means 3rd and 14 + Chavis = 1st down.. Do you even have a clue who Monty Kiffin is. Our next D cord. Chavis is a amature. He couldnt carry Monty Kiffin s clip board..
BuckheadVol1 writes:
It's Football Time In Tennessee!
utclassof1992 writes:
Waaaah!!!! My big, fat, greedy buddy got axed because he lost his fire, energy, and ability to innovate. Sorry, bro, but we just got an upgrade. This guy brings the one thing we needed: A FRESH PERSPECTIVE!!!. No more Foster over Creer, Levine over Jamal Lewis, etc. coaching. If you can play, get on the field. It made Fulmer physically ill to play freshmen, and he loved his favorites, talent notwithstanding. Thank God for the change.
rusty_shackleford writes:
Loved the press conference. Paid homage to the past, looked forward to the future, and promised the players that the best will play regardless of class.
The one tradition that needs more play (sing it 13 times next year!) is the post game song after a win...
We don't give a damn about the whole state of ______,
The whole state of _____,
The whole state of _____.
We don't give a damn about the whole state of ______,
WE'RE FROM TENNESSEE!!!!!
utclassof1992 writes:
I grew up in NW Alabama, and my youth league baseball coach was Dennis Homan. I f-ing hate Bama and all the arrogance they stand for. I got that from dealing with Homan for 3 summers. Homan was a pierce. I also had to deal with James A. "Jap" Patton on a regular basis growing up. Another jackass! I really hate the Tide and all the arrogance. If I had to choose a team from Bama, I would choose the North Alabama Lions. Screw anything in Crimson.
proudveteran writes:
Wrong! One should have the facts before opening your mouth to be exposed as an idiot. Kiffin took the NCAA recruiting test two days prior to making his first contact with recruits and this was stated by Kiffin in his press introduction yesterday. Being an Alamama fan you should know all about NCAA violations...it sure cost Alabama plenty!!!!
utclassof1992 writes:
I hope Florida hangs 50 on Bama Saturday. Nothing makes me happier than listening to my Bama fan wife cry after an Alabama University loss. F Bama. Bear Bryant is a dead, dessicated corpse in Birmingham, but I doubt that he has rotted, due to his copious alcoholism. I wore the Orange proud in 1982 when we handed Bear his last loss to UT, and I had to fight quite a few Alabama U. idiots in the hallways of my NW Alabama high school. Felt good.
utclassof1992 writes:
OMG, I think I just had a MULTPLE-ORGERON. YAW YAW YAW YAW YAW YAW!!!!!!
ctownvol writes:
"Kiffin began contacting recruits on Sunday, as soon as he was cleared by the NCAA to do so. He said he was planning to travel to Memphis on Monday afternoon for a trip to talk with the No. 1 recruit of the class, presumably Harding Academy's Marlon Brown, a wide receiver."
No violations. That's just ol Stevie being the (fill in the bank) he is.
tennisvol writes:
The coach you're replacing won a national title, around 75% of his games and some SEC championships before he was fired by Hamilton. Welcome to Big Orange Country!
cbcbobby writes:
I LOVE IT!!!!!! He diffently handled the press with ease. And I love the comment about EVERYBODY getting a shot to play. EVEN INCOMING FRESHMAN. It's about time. I think we have lost too many recruits because they thought they wouldn't get a chance here!!!! IT'S OVER!!!!!
burpee_von_rotweiler_IV writes:
Okay--he certainly can say the right things that people want to hear. I am going to wait and see if the "walk can back up the talk." I hope it does. Welcome to Tennessee.
tntorbett writes:
You're showing you have absolutely no knowledge of football @ all. I highly doubt much knowledge of anything else either. Honestly, can't believe I'm even dignifying this post w/ a comment; people like you are better off ignored.
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