Photo by AP Photo/University of Southern California Sports Information Office, File
Ed Orgeron, 2004 file photograph.
Photo by St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Scott Linehan, former head coah of the St. Louis Rams' coach talks with Jim Chaney, then an assistant with the NFL team. Chaney was named offensive coordinator for the University of Tennessee on Dec. 31, 2008.
Tennessee coach Lane Kiffin made good on his resolution to assemble an all-star staff during his introductory press conference on Dec 1.
He hired two NFL assistant coaches on New Year's Eve: Ed Orgeron and Jim Chaney.
Orgeron, who was defensive line coach for the New Orleans Saints, accepted the position of recruiting coordinator and defensive line coach along with the title of associate head coach after a face-to-face meeting with Kiffin despite being close to accepting a similar deal with LSU to stay in his home state the day before.
The Vols secured Chaney, who coached tight ends for the St. Louis Rams, as their offensive coordinator just hours before Orgeron signed on.
UT also officially announced that vaunted NFL defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin would join his son's staff as UT's defensive coordinator on Wednesday.
"I'm so excited," Orgeron, 47, told ESPN. "I get to coach with Monte (Kiffin) and I'm getting to recruit again. It's pedal to the metal, and I can't wait to get up there."
Orgeron's decision came after consulting with his family during a vacation in Destin, Fla., where he was visited Wednesday by Lane and Monte Kiffin.
"Lane and Monte took a jet to Destin," Bobby Hebert, a former Saints quarterback and lifelong friend of Orgeron, told Gannett Louisiana. "They were all freaking out at Tennessee after they thought he was going to LSU, and they just stepped it up. I'm not sure what Ed will be making at Tennessee, but it will be more than he would've made at LSU."
Orgeron, who coached with Lane Kiffin at Southern California from 2001-04, is expected to make $650,000 annually, making him one of the highest paid assistants in the country, according to ESPN. Orgeron was making approximately $500,000 with the Saints and LSU was offering around $600,000.
"Ed also favored working with Monte Kiffin over John Chavis," Hebert told Gannett Louisiana.
Chavis, who was UT's defensive coordinator before Phillip Fulmer was let go this past season, is expected to be named LSU's defensive coordinator in the coming days.
Orgeron last coached in college as head coach at Ole Miss from 2005-07. He was fired after compiling a 10-25 record.
He was widely credited with upgrading the Rebels' talent level. Following Orgeron's departure, Ole Miss went 8-4 and 5-3 in the SEC under Houston Nutt.
Before going to the NFL last season, Orgeron garnered national acclaim as one of the top recruiters in the nation and a solid defensive line coach at Southern California and Miami.
He joined USC's staff as defensive line coach in 1998. He was named recruiting coordinator in 2001 and promoted to assistant head coach in 2003.
Orgeron's stop in Miami from 1988-92 also produced great results. He coached eight All-Americans, including NFL first-round picks Cortez Kennedy, Russell Maryland and Warren Sapp.
Chaney, 46, is a native of Warrensburg, Mo., who played college football at Central Missouri State. He was part of head coach Scott Linehan's initial Rams staff in 2006, serving as assistant offensive line coach in 2006 and 2007 before moving to tight ends in 2008.
Before coming to St. Louis, all of Chaney's coaching experience had come in the college ranks. He was offensive coordinator at Purdue from 1998 through 2005 and co-offensive coordinator in 1997.
Over that span, the Boilermakers led the Big Ten in passing offense five times and were ranked in the top 10 in the nation in total offense six times.
With Orgeron and Chaney, UT has five coaches hired of its NCAA-allotted nine positions.
As for other possibilities, it's unclear if UT will be able to hire Jeremy Bates, who was a reserve quarterback for UT in 1995 before transferring to Rice. The former Sevier County High School star was part of Mike Shanahan's staff with the Denver Broncos before Shanahan was suddenly fired Tuesday.
Bates, who coached quarterbacks and receivers for the Broncos, could follow Shanahan to another coaching stop or be retained by Denver, which is thought to have been extremely impressed with Bates' three seasons there.
Monte Kiffin is expected to coach UT's defensive backs meaning the Vols would need to hire a linebacker coach.
It is unclear what Stan Drayton's future holds. The UT running backs coach is one of two holdovers from Fulmer's regime, along with tight ends coach Jason Michael, who is thought to be leaning toward a return to the NFL where he coached from 2005-07.
Two offensive coaches have left UT recently: offensive line coach Greg Adkins to Syracuse and receivers coach Latrell Scott to Virginia.
UT has hired former South Carolina quarterbacks coach and recruiting coordinator David Reaves and former Oakland Raiders assistant offensive line coach James Cregg.
Florida recruiting coordinator/receivers coach Billy Gonzales is also thought to be a candidate for UT's staff.
© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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Comments » 410
tnbigg writes:
Rock and roll! Go Vols!
nicksjuzunk#646117 writes:
Well heck fire! I guess that settles that! Looked like Orgeron was a goner for LSU but he done pulled some rug out from dem fellas!!
proudveteran writes:
Watch the recruits list change with some "big time" players coming in to match the coaching staff. I think we will see some more defensive players on the list and some offense as well...way to go Coach Kiffin.
kwvolsfan writes:
Great staff coming together, will be a force to recon with in the coming years.
GO VOLS!!!!
pdhuff#552644 writes:
This will be a fever pitch level not seen on Rocky Top for a while, if ever.
Welcome aboard, Orgeron.
bloodrunsorange writes:
GREAT!
VA__VOL writes:
WOW!!!!!!!! He is putting an ALL STAR staff together!
seattlevol writes:
Lane Kiffin might be young and inexperienced as a head coach, but he has done a fantastic job at building a supporting cast. The guys he has hired are going to make him look great.
We have the coaching staff to get things done... time to go out and get the players that can do the same.
volcycle writes:
*HAPPY* New Year!
cgbtn#206676 writes:
When it is said Denver is impressed by Bates, who does that mean? The owner? Coach and VP Shannihan? The fans? Does whoever who is impressed have the power to retain him and force the next coach to accept him?
nicksjuzunk#646117 writes:
Kool Aid.... Thick.
Too... much... orange.
Can't.... stop.... drinking!!!!!
Ahhhhh!!!!!!!!
Dang it Mr. Spock, where is my car flag??!!
kwvolsfan writes:
concur, Miltary's greatest generals surrounded themselves with able & competent staffs....Lane is going to RAPE, PILLAGE, & PLUNDER the SEC for the best recruits....if not this year then surely the next.....
HAPPY NEW YEAR & GO VOLS!!!!!
smokyredbone writes:
Yahoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!
Piratevol11 writes:
I'm pumped up for football season. I'm here in Florida and have to put up with Gator phooey all year long. I know these are just coaches, but it's like the season is getting ready to start now. I'm looking forward to seeing what kind of team we come out with next year.
Witch_Doctor writes:
Kudo go to Mike Hamilton too. Nobody cant say he hasnt "put'em on the line". wow
Piratevol11 writes:
For the record I did not type "Phooey" in my post. My word was changed by the cyber gods.
tnbigg writes:
Crows nest ready to rock the New Year! savage...invisible...man the crows nest! Vols are on fire! Great job Mike Hamilton...I take back every bad thing I ever said about you!
orangeluvr writes:
High school recruits, are you paying attention?Come play for the the best coaching staff in college football!
trivol writes:
Wahoo!!!
tnbigg writes:
Well...not exactly everything...but lots of it!
smokyredbone writes:
It's gonna be a new wave: Paying assistants more if HC is willing to work for a little less! Da-m it boy, if we get Gonzolas we will have 4 Former recruiting coordinators and (1) freaking legend!!! look out rocky top is about to explode!~!!!!!! GO VOLS AND CLK!!!
tnbigg writes:
Dang well put...
Witch_Doctor writes:
if you type "God" it turns into "Adams".
nicksjuzunk#646117 writes:
Word on the street is that his following 4 positions will be filled out as follows.
1. Don Shula
2. Bill Walsh
3. Dean Smith (why the heck not?)
4. Bill Cowher
But... that might just be the Kool Aid syrup talking ;0
bluetick writes:
Yea and I am sure all other teams are taking note and will follow what Rocky Top is doing. Paying Saban $4m.......RIDICULOUS! Take care of the assistant coaching staff too and BADA BOOM! Magic happens. Sure can't wait to see what all of this brings.
smokyredbone writes:
HAHA!Phooey! I've used that one a few times on here!!!
rednekmuslTN writes:
i don't know 'bout y'all but I just popped a few buttons on my shirt. Pride is spelled (or is that swelled?) V--O--L--S!
bluetick writes:
You must have been watching Sesame Street. :)
IPOrange writes:
Orgeron said, "It's pedal to the metal, and I can't wait to get up there."
I like that attitude!
What the heck does <0x009D> mean, anyway?
wtvol writes:
It appears that Kiffin is not afraid to surround himself with talented coaches. What a pleasant departure from the previous regime's thinking.
smokyredbone writes:
I think Coach O. wanted to avoid the old " Mustang Package"
smokyredbone writes:
nope just some words that kns thought were spelled phooey!!
Witch_Doctor writes:
We just became a SUPER POWER again. Go VOLS
VolinCalif writes:
Hmmm you lost it! Beam him up Scotty.
Homermoosevols writes:
Hold on...is this a sign of the Apocalypse? Is the world ending? Or did I just read that we landed Orgeron?
DenverVol writes:
Ha! Great post. Go VOLS!
smokyredbone writes:
Crow's Nest in Nashville? The old Box Seat? Heck, I'll leave you alone you might be kinfolk! GO VOLS!!!
VolinCalif writes:
I thought I was the only one this had happened to. So I guess I'm going insane.
VolinCalif writes:
Two Faced.... NO i agree.
tnbigg writes:
Ummmm...I'll let savage explain it if he makes it on here tonight...or invisible...we are the three charter members...Ive consumed too much liquid refreshment to explain it...I tried to communicate with that gator and got my posts removed over on some other thread...stolis iv working well...New Years rollin' in...the all new Vol look...I like it...
Piratevol11 writes:
78th!!!!!!!
I see people typing "first" on here all the time.
volfan1971 writes:
Bill will be a LOT higher than the press box. Up in the clouds kind of high.
tnbigg writes:
I hear what you're sayin'...pretty much...for the most part...and am in agreement for a good portion of it...
kjvols writes:
i think I just had a multiple orgeron
newtonrail writes:
Hamilton, you better tell Kiffin Lite that this is the South. They are probably light years ahead of us in race relations on the Left Coast, but if Drayton is fired, you have a Lily White Staff. Most of those being named as possibles are White. And I'm an Old White Guy, but I know what I'm talking about. There are certain places a Trooper Taylor or Latrell Scott can relate better than the Senior Kiffin's Super Bowl Ring of several years ago.
rabidvol1998 writes:
Now that's funny. Are you watching the Hooter's swim suit reruns?
Mansonlamps writes:
What is this strange feeling I have towards UT football? It's starting to permeate all my thoughts regarding next year and in the long term. I just can't put my finger on what it is because I haven't felt it in some time. Could it possibly be....optimism?
hellsbellsvols writes:
GREAT Job Coach! Now, lets go gets the BEST talent in the county and KICK some FL; GA and ALA AZZ! Maybe this will be the last time we have to sit at home on NEW YEARS! HAPPY NEW YEAR to ALL!!!!
kwvolsfan writes:
Now that's funny...LMAO....
VolinCalif writes:
It looks like the SEC is bowling quite well. Lets hope it keeps up. My New year pledge. Some times this site bickers on every subject one wants to talk about.
I've been married 54 years, Yea Yea the same one. If I have to I'll go back to talking to the wife.... Until the spring season starts any way.
Be safe and have a good one.
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