The initial meeting was Nov. 13 in Atlanta. It lasted more than four hours. Mike Hamilton left his first interview suspecting he might have met his new football coach.
After a number of discussions with other potential candidates, Tennessee’s athletic director called Lane Kiffin again from Dallas on Monday, Nov. 24. Please hop the next plane from California, Hamilton requested. They would talk Tuesday morning.
Kiffin arrived in Texas late Monday night. What was supposed to be a quick hello turned into two hours.
Tuesday morning led to three more hours talking UT football. When the men got on planes to head their separate ways, Hamilton was convinced. He came home, got his ducks in a row and offered the job (he said) on Friday.
Thus, on Monday afternoon Tennessee’s 21st football coach was introduced to a packed room at Neyland Stadium.
By my math, that’s maybe 10 hours of face-to-face talk. That’s a quick courtship, considering the stakes of the marriage.
“There’s a risk involved in any hire,’’ Hamilton said Monday. “What you try to do is mitigate those risks.’’
Kiffin is Hamilton’s fourth coaching hire as boss of UT’s athletic department. So far, so good.
Bruce Pearl. Brilliant.
The jury is still out on Todd Raleigh. His first baseball team went 27-29.
Sam Winterbotham is 40-12 after two years of tennis. His second team went 23-4 and was ranked No. 9 in the nation.
But Hamilton won’t be judged by tennis or baseball. Furthermore, Doug Dickey made it 18 years to retirement despite a series of sketchy basketball hires. Dickey had to make only one football hire. In Phillip Fulmer, he got it right.
Hamilton spoke Monday of a survey in which Tennesseans across the state were asked their first thought about the University of Tennessee.
“Eighty-five percent said Tennessee football,’’ said Hamilton.
“Anybody that’s hiring a (football) coach at the University of Tennessee understands it’s a critical hire for our program because it is the engine driving our financial train.’’
As the 2008 season went horribly wrong, the financial train wasn’t hauling as much freight as it needed to. That’s why Hamilton relieved Fulmer of the throttle Nov. 3.
Some have been critical of Hamilton for the timing, but it was the right call.
“If you put yourself in Mississippi State’s shoes today,’’ he said, “they had the resignation over the weekend and they’re just getting started.
“It gave us the opportunity to hit the recruiting trail wide open this week.’’
Hiring a basketball coach is easier than football. The candidate pool is bigger in basketball. Football is more complicated, involves more bodies.
Still, the experience of finding and choosing Pearl facilitated finding and choosing Kiffin.
“We knew what kinds of questions the coaches are going to ask, what’s important to them,’’ Hamilton said. “And we knew what kinds of questions you need to be asking the coaches.’’
The history of hiring coaches is littered with hits and misses — not just at Tennessee but everywhere and in every sport. You try to mitigate the risks.
Hamilton never considered Kiffin’s age, 33, a risk. Pat Summitt was 22.
“In Lane’s case,’’ Hamilton said, “while he’s physically 33, he’s been around football forever.
“From a football perspective he’s much more mature than others and that came across in the discussions.’’
He never considered Kiffin’s brief head-coaching resume a risk. Somebody had to give Bob Stoops his first shot. Heck, somebody had to give Bob Neyland his first shot.
He never considered Kiffin’s lack of a Tennessee connection a risk. Nick Saban didn’t grow up in Tuscaloosa.
“It’s about assessing someone’s ability to achieve,’’ Hamilton said.
You do all the research and background checking you can. In the end, there’s a lot of gut instinct involved in that assessment.
“It’s been a long four weeks in a lot of ways,’’ said Hamilton. “Now let all the pressure shift to Coach Kiffin.’’
That’s mostly wishful thinking. For better or worse, Hamilton and Kiffin are in this together.
Mike Strange may be reached at 865-342-6276 or strangem@knoxnews.com.
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Comments » 47
TommyJack writes:
So why was the middleman paid $40k?
Ironcity writes:
Strange hit this one right on the head. I like the way Hamilton went about it.
smokyredbone writes:
GOOD HIRE! MIKE HAMILTON IS THE MAN,DON'T KNOW WHY PEOPLE GIVE HIM SO MUCH S_IT! GO VOLS!!!
tnbigg writes:
Great hire...better days dead ahead...
murrayvol writes:
To provide a list which includes the right candidate. The rest is up to the prospective buyer.
DennisVols writes:
I was impressed with what Kiffin said he told Hamilton at their first meeting. To not offer him the job then. To go and interview all the other canidates. His confidence is reassuring and will go a long way to re-establishing that with the current players.
After this season, and you could see it during the season, the players have some serious doubts about being able to win, espically the big games.
plzcomebackpeyton writes:
...first?
murrayvol writes:
Not only do they despise him today but for as long as the grass shall grow.
I don't know how Kiffin will do short or long term. What I do know is I'm excited about UT football for the first time in a long time.
murrayvol writes:
Nope!
ULTIMATEVOLUNTEER writes:
$40K. That's a lot of hotdogs.
hotrodvol writes:
It's kind of like looking for a new car, you do your research. Hamilton looked at the $65,000 Escalade(Gruden) $45,000 Towncar(Davis), $20,000 Civic(Kelly) but when it came down to it the best car for UT's family was the $30,000 Camry(Kiffin).
blitzshoot writes:
Expensive smoke.
NorthwestVol writes:
'know it all hillbillies that call in drunk'....
You say that like it's something bad.... Come on dude lighten up.
woodwr#217203 writes:
Choosing the best currently unemployed former head coach was much easier AND QUICKER than choosing among coaches and coordinators of teams going to BCS bowls.
Saving or improving this next recruiting class is not all that important. Let's HOPE the head start pays off in assembling a staff of assistants.
hotrodvol writes:
With the money UT saved by not getting Davis(probably #1 choice) higher salary and buy out. UT will spend a lot of money on top notch asst. coaches, Kiffin will have whatever resources he needs to excell at UT.
volnknox writes:
excited again about football, I don't know how kiffin will do, but lets give him a fair chance. lets be honest how bad can he do, the damage has been done by the former staff, theres only one way to go now- up! he can't do any worse with his offense, considering what this seasons' offense produced. He's young, but all great coaches were given a chance at some age in their career, look at this way- If you went to college and graduated, how would you feel if every potential job you applied for was not given to you because your were not experienced or told you were too young?
thevoice writes:
Kiffin's going to be makin' a whole lot more bones than this measly $2.25 in years to come. When you win, you gotta keep up with the Jones'.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Its kinda like the night manager at Halls Crossing K Mart could round up the buggies.
But he enjoys watching Dupree do it while TDTN hammers down his 7th Bud Lite from the '72 brown Ford van across the lot.
Power and position.
TNPilgrim writes:
If he's bringing his dad, why would he want to bring Orgeron? This guy proved to be a jerk at Ole Miss, and doesn't seem to be a fit with the rest of the group he's talking about.What about finding a position for Sylvester Croom, to possibly step into Monte's spot in a year or two? He might be available for a coordinator's job at a major football school rather than take a head coaching situation at Div 2.
DennisVols writes:
UK could't keep up with the Jones. They chased him all the way down the field and then into the endzone.
tenuscvol writes:
and foremost...
VOLinDAWGland writes:
I'm a UTC grad and would love to see anyone of those names at UTC. With their facilities there's no reason why UTC shouldn't be a force in the Southern Conference.
Caspian writes:
It's called "mitigating the risk". Ever buy a $2 million dollar piece of real estate? Broker fees come in around $40K.
volpreacher writes:
Orange Swarm!!! I like it. Boys, I think we are in for a great ride. Look for Kiffin to take us to the promised land. Can't wait to give Satan a beating again along with those lizards in Fla.
utgrad93 writes:
Kiffin reminds me of that guy I saw on late nite TV who made millions of dollars in his one bedroom apartment submitting tiny ads in newspapers and magazines. Sounds like he can sell and did a good job with Hamilton.
The_Mayor writes:
Did Brandon Warren change numbers?
BuckFama writes:
Hope LK becomes the best coach UT has ever had. Seems as if he'll be surrounding himself w/a great staff ... hopefully he'll retain some wavering recruiting commitments.
Go Vols!
jabark82 writes:
Just to weigh in on the UT-Chattanooga talk... Quite frankly it's sad what that program has had to deal with. I think you give it one more chance to succeed. If it doesnt work out with a new coach, get rid of the program and look into baseball. Seriously we dont need 4 or 5 more years of under .500 ball. You have a great stadium, great facilities, and a wonderful city to attract players. Got get a good coach (Clawson, Dale Jones, etc.) then get out there get some good players and go for it. Also move into the OVC. The SoCon is way over their heads.
newtonrail writes:
Mr. Gault, Coach Kiffin may turn out to be a great hire. I hope he is. As a Season Ticket for FB and BB for longer than most people on this board have been around, I don't like to lose games. It was time for Fulmer to go. But Hamilton didn't have to lie about. Yes I know lie is a strong word. But when you tell your coaches and the whole world you'll wait until the end of the season to make decision, and don't it's a lie. It's not the first time for him. I know Jim Haslam wanted Fulmer gone, and pulled the strings. He got a whole lot of newer mega boosters mad too. First words out of Kiffin's mouth today were to thank Jim Haslam. All of Mr Hamilton's points about Miss. State just now starting the search process, while we can hit the ground running with recruiting is true. Of course it only works for whoever hired Lane Kiffin or some other unemployed coach. Now I grew up in Knoxville, and got my degree from The University of Tennessee. I don't drink and don't call talk radio, but if you wish to call me a hillbilly, then have at it.
panavol writes:
That would be great!
Maybe UT could pay a large portion of his salary!
UT'S complete staff of coordinators and assistant coaches, including Chavis made $1.9 Million...
CPF made $2+ Mil...
Lane Kiffin will make 2+ Mil.
Monte Kiffin makes 2 Mil with the bucks...
We need another 2 or 3 MIL to pay the rest of the staff...
CPF gets 1.5 Mil a year X4...
Compensate fired staff for a year...
ARE GAME TICKETS GOING UP OR
ARE WE ASKING FOR A GOVERNMENT BAILOUT????
junder13 writes:
I have been extremely critical of Mike Hamilton in the past--in large part, due to the contract extension last year with Fulmer--but I must say, I am extremely impressed with his mindset going into this hire. His thought process was very impressive. He may turn out to be a great AD. Of course, the Kiffin hire will be the main thing ppl will remember, so only time will tell.
Regardless of how Kiff turns out, I am glad to see Hamilton swing for the fences and get a coach with great upside potential (no great reward or opportunity comes without substantial risk--just like in investing).
txvolsfan writes:
We are just going to have two #1's next year!!!
txvolsfan writes:
Great Post
FatherVol writes:
Smoke and mirrors; the illusion of a search. It is my opinion that Hamilton made up his mind to go after Kiff the day he was fired from te Raiders. He just had to wait to validate his desire to depose CPF.
Hudro writes:
I think you have to be excited after watching the press conference. Maybe we won't have an offense that is afraid to throw the football like we were this year. Can't remember a time when the staff was literally petrified at the prospect of having to throw.
stinky_pinky writes:
I don't understand why some people are against bringing Coach "O" in. He is the best defensive recuiter in the nation (Saban considers him an equal) Monte is not going to recruit. Coach "o" will have us 3 deep at every position in 2-3 yrs
And besides, Coach "O" doesn't drink anymore (just red bulls) - I say get him and get him quick before LSU does.
givehim6 writes:
Got to remember Gruden, Davis, and Kelly didn't want the UT job. Kiffin I think was the only coach to take the job. I do not want to sound anti-Kiffin he sounds like a good hire, i'll wait to see how the 2009 recuiting class ends up. And the 2009 season goes.
JtDL writes:
In fairness, we had a line that rarely gave any QB time to make a decent pass. Couple that with having inexperienced QBs and I was afraid to see pass plays too.
AllVol2008#1353998 writes:
As a UTC grad, myself, I was very disappointed that we did not join the OVC the last time it was offered--many great and natural rivalries to enjoy. UTC football is not even currently relevant. And I agree with whoever said give it one more shot and shut it down.
rockytopron writes:
Based on the picture with this article, I see why hammy selected Kiffin and it had nothing to do with football.
hammy is a sneaky-snake.
TommyJack writes:
Good sources say that Kelly absolutely DID WANT the job..Davis? Who knows? Way overrated anyway IMO.
teedub writes:
Newton - Make sure you know exactly what Hamilton said before you criticize. You are misquoting him. Hamilton said that they normally wait until the end of the season to evaluate the entire body of work. That is not a promise. He was very clear about that.
utvols1 writes:
what a stupid analogy-stick to reading car and driver.
Madkels writes:
Remember how excited some were when Clawson came on board? I like the guy, but I'll wait and see the results on the field before passing judgement.
marinevol writes:
The competition was fierce, but this post has to win the prize for the most inane post of the day. You are absolutely correct,sir, Tennessee has never had a good offense under Fulmer. Moreover, Fulmer always emphasized to Peyton Manning that under no circumstances was he ever to defeat Florida. Congratulations again on your brilliant post.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
Just a guess, but I think country410 was referring to the fact that UT didn't have enough defense in that particular era to give Peyton a decent chance. The HC is responsible for the defense as well as the offense, you know. I do not agree with him that UT NEVER had a good offense under Fulmer. It is just that the offense was allowed to stagnate in Fulmer's later years. Cutcliffe's return briefly rejuvenated the offense after the Sanders era. The Clawson hire gave some hope for moving the offense forward, but it just didn't happen, at least not soon enough to prevent the offense's outright collapse.
Volunatic writes:
I'm no fan of Mike Hamilton, but he didn't "lie about" whether he would wait until the end of the season to make a decision on Fulmer's future.
He said he PREFERS to wait until the end of the season. However, after the Vols were embarrassed by South Carolina (and Georgia, and Florida, and Alabama, and incompetent Auburn and UCLA) IT WAS TIME TO START MAKING THE CHANGE RIGHT AWAY.
I'll always be a fan of Phil Fulmer, but UT needed someone else to take over as UT's Head Coach immediately following the last game, not after a search that started following the last game.
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