Tennessee's Lane Kiffin might not hire the best coaching staff in college football. But it could be the most anticipated staff.
The anticipation began with Kiffin's first press conference. He basically promised UT fans an all-star coaching staff.
Since then, there seemingly has been more interest in Kiffin's potential staff than Kiffin himself. It doesn't usually work that way. Voters don't shrug at the result of a presidential election, then work themselves into a frenzy over the selection of his cabinet.
But there's nothing usual about this situation. You have a 33-year-old coach with no college head-coaching experience whose father happens to be one of the best defensive coaches ever to draw an "X" on a chalkboard. The package-deal rumors were in play before UT confirmed Lane's hiring.
The package has been delivered. Monte Kiffin said he will leave the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at the end of the season and join his son's first UT staff as a defensive coordinator.
At this point, the news should produce a large sigh of relief, rather than a celebration. The Monte Kiffin rumor has been so strong for so long, he would have made bigger news by not signing on with the Vols.
Imagine how that would have come across at a time when UT's losses are overshadowing its gains in recruiting: "Kiffin can't even get his dad to sign with UT."
In fact, you have to wonder if the elder Kiffin's announcement was a recruiting ploy. It can't hurt. If you are a defensive player with NFL aspirations, Monte Kiffin might be more appealing than UT's state-of-the-art facilities and a 100,000-plus-seat stadium.
Guru-status aside, Monte Kiffin alone doesn't make for an all-star staff. But he's at least a huge step in that direction.
You might feel even better about the hiring if Monte Kiffin practiced his magic on offense.
The Vols rank fourth nationally in defense and 115th in offense. Why hire one of the best floor men in the country when your roof is collapsing?
The roof/offense is Kid Kiffin's job. He can entrust the defense to his father.
Former UT defensive coordinator John Chavis and the rest of UT's defensive staff did fine in 2008. That doesn't mean Monte Kiffin & Co. can't do better. Maybe Monte can foil the fourth-quarter tactics of UCLA's Norm Chow. Maybe he can even slow down the Gators.
And maybe his NFL pedigree will be a recruiting magnet.
In a best-case scenario for UT, Monte will have no more trouble adjusting to college offenses than Bill Arnsparger did. Arnsparger gained fame as the defensive coordinator of the unbeaten Miami Dolphins. Then, after a long, successful career in the NFL, Arnsparger took a head-coaching job with LSU in 1984.
Don't let his title fool you. He ran LSU's defense. His ability to make defensive adjustments quickly and decisively in the heat of battle had a huge impact on a program that went from 4-7 in 1983 to 8-3-1 in Arnsparger's first season.
Monte Kiffin's defensive philosophy isn't altogether different from what's going on in the SEC. He places more importance on size, than speed. He's also one of the game's most passionate advocates of turnovers. So it's hardly surprising that the Bucs are tied for the NFL lead in takeaways.
Aside from the hiring of his father, Lane's next most anticipated hire probably would be Ed Orgeron, the former Ole Miss head coach who is coaching the New Orleans Saints defensive line.
Orgeron never lost fewer than eight games in three seasons at Ole Miss, but his recruiting laid the groundwork for coach Houston Nutt's success this season.
Never mind that Orgeron was a bust as a head coach. He can motivate a defensive lineman to maul the student-athlete in front of him. And his recruiting success is documented in the book, "Meat Market."
Orgeron would give Kiffin a star recruiter. Kiffin already has hired David Reaves, who established himself as a strong recruiter as an assistant coach at South Carolina.
But while there's still work to do in assembling an all-star staff, Lane's hiring of Monte Kiffin lived up to the anticipation.
Sports editor John Adams may be reached at 865-342-6284 or adamsj@knoxnews.com.
© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
Want to use this article? Click here for options!
UT vs UT Martin, Sept. 4, 2010
Charlie Daniel draws Tennesse…
Allison Dooley and her kids i…
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 74
VOLorado writes:
Is there a (college) staff with more NFL personnel?
jwright13#576991 writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
junder13 writes:
Actually, I think this is a very well written article. If Kiff had not gotten his father here to UT I have little doubt that many UT fans (including myself) would have felt slightly shafted. It's a valid point. Part of Kiffin's biggest positive was the "potential" staff he could bring. Even Hammie said so. Why do you think so much $$ was left available for the hiring of his staff relative to what Fulmer's staff got paid?!?
Come on guys. Hate on Adams, fine. But give credit where credit is due. This is a good article and a (somewhat) original thought.
fredricks writes:
? What's up with the bad attitude? It wasn't that bad.
NoogaVol55 writes:
Nice article, but doesn't Monte place more importance on speed than size?
MidTennVol writes:
No, this hire is a great, unusual start but it's only Act I. The second Act will be the hiring of the OC, which had better create the same level of excitement.
Act III will come on national signing day in February. Some of us expect a top 5-or-better class, possibly with a five-star marquis QB.
The final act comes next fall...
et_vol_fan writes:
Thank you Captain Obvious.
JBruce writes:
I don't think people have a problem with what Adams is saying.
It is the fact that every article he writes has the same pessimistic tone.
Someone that is as pessimistic as Adams either hates his job or hates himself.
Either case is curable. Either quit your job or take a "happy pill."
vol1 writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
chatteastbrainerd writes:
Please share your journalistic pedigree. You must be a graduate of Columbia, one of the best J schools in the nation. Your alliteration is brilliant, and those ellipsis marks--wow, unparalleled rhetorical style.
King53 writes:
sorry, there will be no act II. Kiffin will be the HC and the OC
MidTennVol writes:
?? I've read differently.
And, maybe I'm not all that informed, but I've never heard of a college football team never having an OC, even in name only. Even Spurrier and Meyer and other play-calling HC's have OCs, if only as figureheads.
sevenmaxims#354995 writes:
Adams has the speed / size thing backwards. Sloppy work.
okievol writes:
You are correct. More emphasis on speed... although he likes big D tackles as run stoppers.
floridavolsfan writes:
It still comes down to winning!!! Can the Kiffs bring home da booty?? IT IS KIFFIN TIME IN EAST TENNESSEE! The kiffster---The Kiffarama---I wish I had a Kiffa Ball!!!
tnbigg writes:
Good.
BIGEJ writes:
OPINIONS VARY............GO VOLs
utclassof1992 writes:
http://www.nebhalloffame.org/1996/kif...
Volalumnus writes:
Kiffin isn't looking for an OC.
pms151 writes:
Good OCs will not go to a place where they are merely formation spotters in the press box. Kiffin will hire a position/OC guy and call the plays himself. I think he may have just done that..
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Well written, JA.
This will be an interesting chapter in the Orange book.
How many days, Ashley (oops) till the Hilltoppers?
glemmons writes:
There will not be an OC. However, rumor is that CK will hire a special teams coach and that is GOOD NEWS!!!!!!!
Volumni writes:
What Kiffin is known widely for is the zone pass defense, but it works because his players are fast and are terrific tacklers. Due respect, but except for just a VERY few, Tennessee defenses have been known for simply trying to knock people down, resulting in lots of extra yardage and big plays, not wrapping up. I am very excited to have a defensive coach who will demand that our players know how to tackle as well as "blow somebody up". Berry does, Mayo does, Wilson did, but many of our LB's over the year, and all of our DB's (except Berry) hit instead of tackle. I think that will be the first difference we see.
All hail the Full Monte!
jobrando#216494 writes:
Breaking News>>>>>>>>Kif's plane is going to Grand Rapids today and that to me means he is meeting with Ryan Mallett the transfering Michigan QB....
rllipscomb#212376 writes:
I think Adams might have something backwards. The Tampa 2 defense relies on speed more than size.
jobrando#216494 writes:
Speed is what I've found out to be the main part of it.
gohawks1 writes:
Great link. It's going to be fun to watch this guy at work.
TheVolMan writes:
fredricks of Hollywood - just another anti-Adams weenie who is still fuming that his man Phil was let go due to poor performance. Keep on whining fredricks!
vol2211insc writes:
But hasn't he already transfered to Arkansas?? Grand Rapids his hometown? Are you suggesting that he's going after him since he's good to play since he sat out this season after transfering from michigan to Ark??
nicksjuzunk#646117 writes:
Uh... maybe broken news is more like it. That cat transferred to Arkansas a year ago.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ryan_Mal...
indianacurly writes:
wouldn't he have to go to arkansas to talk to him???
rbhobbs73#226545 writes:
Ryan Mallet is from Texarkana, not Grand Rapids and he is enrolled at Arkansas and will be their starting QB in 2009.
Whoever he went to see was not Ryan Mullet...unfortunately.
jack_2222#231746 writes:
The Tampa2 defense is a bend but don't break, don't give up the big play, keep everything in front of you type of defense, predicated on a mobile, active and smart middle linebacker.
It'll be interesting to see how Kiffin's coaching translates from the NFL to college.
smokyredbone writes:
Kiffin said it himself at his press conf. If he hired an OC they would be calling his plays! Thats his specialty and the reason he was hired! Why pay a figure head, use that money to secure big names where needed. GO VOLS!
TommyJack writes:
262 days til we get the real Bowling Green team, W. KY.
ravensearay writes:
I remember having this kind of anticipation about our upcoming season last year. I'm still scarred from that expectation..........
But this is just too good not to be true..... Here we go again............I can't wait till 9-5-09.....
indianacurly writes:
i think that system that we've seen is geared towards to pros. there, if you hold your opponents to a handfull of fgs on their 6 - 7 possessions per game, you'll win half your games. i wouldn't be shocked to see him change things up a little for the college game.
stinky_pinky writes:
"He places more importance on size, than speed"
WTF??? Credibility lost. Get it right.
cjraney writes:
Poor Ashley. I had forgotten about her til now. I think KNS should set up a parallel universe Vols site for those who can't play nice.
ScoobyDoo writes:
For those wondering if Kiffin's NFL experience will translate to the college level, I think Adams's example of Arnsparger is a good one. Also, remember another NFL defensive coordinator who had the #1 defense in the NFL and went to the college ranks as a head coach with some pretty good success: Nick Saban. Even Wannstedt at Pitt has had good defenses, his problem is just recruiting.
And note: just because Kiffin *favors* "speed over size" doesn't mean he's wanting pygmies on defense. I am really excited to see what he's able to do with Berry (and what HC Kiffin does with Berry on offense).
RoyaltyVol#280778 writes:
I'm impressed with whats happening at UT and the staff we're getting. Monte Kiffin alone will be able to recruit great players on D. The SEC's golden team for D has always been Alabama, maybe now it will be UT
jobrando#216494 writes:
Yep..I blew that one..if not mallet then what about the 5 star DT williams.
jobrando#216494 writes:
Heck, I mean William Campbell
illinoisvolfan writes:
Except for the size/speed issue, this was actually a well-written article from Adams. He must have taken a few happy pills or consumed some kool-aid before writing the article.
As always, GO VOLS!!
grvol writes:
How will the Vols ever survive on D without the !MUSTANG!?
murrayvol writes:
pd will be expecting one of these every 3-5 days. Geezers sometimes forget things.
murrayvol writes:
Excepting the flip flop on size/speed, good article. MK is without question the centerpiece of CLK's cabinet.
IMO we will soon be watching a defense that will strike fear in the hearts and pains in the keisters of OCs far and wide.
Kiffin_fan writes:
Amen murray, I bet they are already watching film of the Bucs. This is a great thing for the Vols
rbhobbs73#226545 writes:
Woody Widenhofer was another former NFL defensive coordinator who came to college and stymied offenses with players at VANDERBILT! Ask Peyton Manning, that 14-12 win he squeaked out probably cost him the Heistman....
Our defense is in good hands...now about our offense.......
Kiffin_fan writes:
I think CLK has a plan for the offense as well. Did you hear him on Vol Calls last night? He said "I had to get out and lock up our in-state guys" rather than work on my staff first. Makes me wonder who all he has locked up that we don't know about yet!!!! Hopefully Marlon Brown who is scheduled for an official visit on Jan. 30....
Share your thoughts
Comments are the sole responsibility of the person posting them. You agree not to post comments that are off topic, defamatory, obscene, abusive, threatening or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be banned. Click here for our full user agreement.