Lane Kiffin
Blog: Snark Bites
Lane Kiffin
- Former Oakland Raiders coach
- Age: 33
- 2007 salary: $2 million
- Highlights: Trojans averaged 49 points, 579 yards a game in 2005, Kiffin’s first year as offensive coordinator - of course that was with Matt Leinart, Reggie Bush, LenDale White and Dwayne Jarrett. Youngest head coach in NFL history when hired by Oakland at age 31.
- Career record:5-15 (NFL)
- Notable stops: Assistant - Fresno State (1997- 98), Southern Cal (2001-04); Offensive coordinator - Southern Cal (2005-06); Head coach - Oakland Raiders (2007-08).
- Why He’d Work:Background in NFL helps in recruiting. USC finished with No. 1 rated recruiting class each of his three years as recruiting coordinator. Son of longtime NFL coach Monte Kiffin, whose connections could help put together a veteran staff.
- Why He Wouldn’t: Body of work could be too short to fully project how he might do in a return to college football. Winning percentage of .250 as a head coach isn’t easy to sell, either, but the Raiders were better under his watch.
- Quotable: "Players don’t care about age. Players want to be coached. Great players want to get better, and that’s what we’re going to do." - Kiffin, according to the San Francisco Chronicle during a press conference introducing him as the Raiders’ head coach
Tennessee athletic director Mike Hamilton steadfastly denied on Wednesday afternoon that he had offered UT’s soon-to-be vacant head football coaching job to Lane Kiffin contrary to broadcast reports earlier in the day.
“We have not offered the job to anybody,” Hamilton said. “If anybody has said that, that would be incorrect information.”
Kiffin, 33, was fired by the Oakland Raiders on Oct. 1 after compiling a 5-15 record in 1 1/2 seasons.
While the process appears to have focused on Kiffin, Hamilton declined to discuss any specifics, such as if he has any remaining interviews scheduled or if he has a leader in mind.
“Our process is fluid,” Hamilton said. “I understand there is a lot of interest in what’s going on. It would not surprise me that people would want to talk about these kinds of things. The process is not over.”
WNML reported that Kiffin has been offered the job and is assembling a staff that could include Ed Orgeron of the New Orleans Saints and Kiffin’s father, Monte Kiffin, of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Orgeron is a natural fit. He and Lane Kiffin coached together at Southern Cal before becoming coach at Ole Miss, where he furthered his reputation as one of the nation’s top recruiters. Orgeron coaches the Saints’ defensive line.
Monte Kiffin could be a tougher pull. He’s an extremely well respected NFL defensive coordinator that reportedly makes $2 million annually.
While Kiffin is now the focus of UT’s coaching search, a source has told the News Sentinel that Gary Patterson of Texas Christian also had contact with UT recently.
Patterson’s regular season was complete as of last Saturday meaning he is more available for interviews. Patterson’s name has also been circulated with the Clemson vacancy.
Cincinnati’s Brian Kelly seems less a possibility after some comments he made to the Cincinnati Enquirer.
“Where you feel it the most is in my want and desire to continue to build this football program,” Kelly said when asked if considering other jobs made him evaluate himself and his career. “(I’m) having those conversations with potential donors, from a facilities standpoint to a stadium standpoint, and (I’m) getting the response, ‘We’re going to get this thing done.’
“If I wasn’t married and I didn’t have kids, I’d look at what the best personal thing is. That’s not the case. When you come home and your son goes, ‘Dad I don’t want to go to Tennessee,’ that affects you. But you know that comes with the territory. If you win, you’re going to get those things.
“I think every day, am I looking at the next challenge? Am I trying to suit my own ego? You weigh all of those things. You look at your family. You look at what you’re good at. Does the place allow you to do the things you’re good at?”
North Carolina’s Butch Davis seems a longer shot than ever considering he’s recruiting UT’s commitments. However, it’s certainly reasonable to think that Davis will get one final call from UT once his regular season is complete this Saturday.
Davis has publicly denied interest in the UT job.
Hamilton said he’s still adhering to his timetable of having a coach in place by mid-December, although he declined to say an announcement could come next week, as many believe.
“There’s a chance it might be done before then,” Hamilton said. “The goal is to have it finished by the middle of December at the least.
“I’m not going to put any more of a timetable on it than what we have already. When you get near the conclusion on these kind of things, you don’t know exactly what the end result might be, how things play out, what gets involved in the process.”
Hamilton said a quick announcement would benefit current players who will soon leave for the holidays and prospects, who can host recruiters in their homes as of Monday, as per NCAA rules.
However, Hamilton said fans shouldn’t expect a decision just to fit into the NCAA recruiting calendar. Hamilton said there is a plan in place to send some of UT’s current staff on the road recruiting if a staff isn’t in place by next week.
“We have plans to do that,” Hamilton said. “We’re still evaluating who’s going to go where and when.”
When pressed again on the issue of the Kiffin offer, Hamilton was emphatic.
“I think the main thing is what I said earlier,” he said. “The process is ongoing. The job has not been offered to anybody. We’re still advancing the process.
“That’s the bottom line at this point.”
Tennessee's signing class for 2012
Tennessee Lady Vols 60, South…
Signing day celebration at Neyland…
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 435
jfg1980 writes:
first
VOLorado writes:
Was he informally offered the job?
WorkinLikeHeck writes:
yawn...Kiffin better bring Coach O with him so that I can be entertained by the 3 ring circus that appears to be coming to Knoxville soon.
thevoice writes:
Maybe he was "formerly" offered the job. Language semantics?
tnbigg writes:
The suspense...the drama...will he go or just say no...
thevoice writes:
Kiffen = Tajh Boyd?
7_Game_Maxims writes:
Jeez! This is getting crazy! Even WNOX is reporting that he was offered the job. Maybe "formal" IS the key word?
ctownvol writes:
Dang. I thought I was gonna be a story breaker and post a link to this article. Never mind.
1stBaseHelton writes:
Welcome to Big Orange Country Coach Kiffin!
thevoice writes:
Sure is a lot of smoke. Gotta have flames to follow soon. Sounds like a done deal. He's putting a staff together I hear.
RoyaltyVol#280778 writes:
Why did Mr Hamilton feel the need to let us know this? He hasn't shot down other rumors.
blitzshoot writes:
If he can get his dad to join him and get orgeon (?), it could be an awesome staff and some unbelievable recruiting.
Look out....
Notre Dame is after Meyer???
drum45 writes:
Are you kidding me....we fired Fulmer for this?
NoMoreWooAfterGoodOleRockyTop writes:
And CFP said that UT had another good week of practice.
Volunatic writes:
I'm still holding out hope for Whittingham, but I'll save a lot of dough on season tickets otherwise.
blitzshoot writes:
Formally is sending executed originals back to the principals. It's done. Go get your dad and O......
wyomingvol writes:
Burt Reynolds....
Volunatic writes:
Well, you hated Fulmer, and now you're apparently not a Kiffin fan-- who were you hoping for?
tennesseeike writes:
I read on a national link this morning Kiffen would be offered the job and would accept. This article also mentioned the fact a USC QB commit would be making an official visit to UT the first Saturday in December.
He would not have been my first choice but if surronded by a good staff this will work. We are a QB and a couple of skill players away from winning 8 games next year..
blitzshoot writes:
Wonder if Kiffen will be looking on Saturday.
KENVOL writes:
God help us if Orgeron comes anywhere near Knoxville. He is a classless act and has NO business in college football. He was a total embarrassment at Oxford.
RoyaltyVol#280778 writes:
Thats funny!
ctownvol writes:
I'll believe it when I see him wearing Orange at the press conference.
WorkinLikeHeck writes:
Well, for starters, someone that has had some track record of success...Kiffin may turn out to be a good coach at UT, but you can't point to anything in his past with any certainty other than he was USC's recruiting coordinator that he has had success. It just seems that alot of Kiffin's pluses are who he MIGHT bring with him as assistants such as his dad. I want no part of Coach Ogre despite his recruiting abilities. He's never been a DC either.
blitzshoot writes:
This would be the most solid staff in college football.
Talking about a recruiting machine...
caskew#218608 writes:
Some "fans" wouldn't be happy with anyone we got even if we could resurrect Gen. Neyland from the dead. Whoever we hire, some people would find faults somewhere. I say give him a chance....It sounds like he may bring one hell of a staff, so lets see what he can do!
RoyaltyVol#280778 writes:
Whats up with the Kiffin picture on the home page. Looks like Michael Jordan calling a time out. I'm not impressed!
volsthunder writes:
Exactly....I hear Col. Reb is laughing!
Volunatic writes:
The Vols also need something resembling an offensive line.
blitzshoot writes:
What do yo base this on?
And Nutt seems to be doing pretty well with HIS recruits.
Volunatic writes:
Nah, they don't even look remotely similar.
GreerVol22 writes:
being that he is 33, we may find him hanging with Bruce at the cougar pad this weekend....if this pans out.
blitzshoot writes:
I wonder what amount of cash it is taking to land kiffen, his dad, and Orgeron.
volsthunder writes:
Or on the strip getting drunk!
WorkinLikeHeck writes:
any of the other "candidates" (Kelly, Davis, Leach, Whitingham, Calhoun, Peterson, etc.) have a track record of success as a head coach that can be pointed to or at least moreso than Kiffin. Kiffin will supposedly be able to recruit. It just seems like he is the biggest experiment of the candidates that we were looking at. At the very least, hopefully, he assembles a great staff full of recruiters so we can get the players and then coach them to whatever the expectations are. IF not, he'll be Ron Zook and we'll be looking for someone to coach the talent in 3 years.
KENVOL writes:
The guy would go around their football field peeing all around it to mark his spot. He would use bad language in his interviews around women. He has NO class.
JMP_Vols writes:
That's why I question Monte coming too. Seems we would have to pay him close to what the son would make. Unless, for Monte, its 100% about working with Lane. Then I suppose it wouldn't be about the dollar.
scottmichaelmoore#540590 writes:
Jimmy Hayams...get your story right before you open your mouth. Thats some Busch League reporting.
ctownvol writes:
Closure? Not yet. Something about counting your chickens comes to mind. I like the sound of Kiffin and coach O, but I'm not running through the streets clapping just yet.
caskew#218608 writes:
Lame Kiffin....wow, that's so original and soooooo funny.......
Volunatic writes:
I'm in agreement that he wasn't my first choice, but my first choice (Whittingham) didn't seem to get much consideration in the search. (Here I have all these opinions about just about everything, and the decision makers NEVER seem to consult with me!)
I don't think it will be a 180 degree turnaround next season, but Kiffin might turn out to be a good choice after a couple of years.
govols87 writes:
where is this article or whatever that says a CA recruit is to visit next Sat
volsthunder writes:
I like to see Gen. Neyland, wouldnt you?
bobbarbilly writes:
Reno Hightower. Done deal.
tnvolgrad00 writes:
I can't understand why anyone of you would not see how Kiffin can take us where we want to go. By far the best candidate and it will be announced on Monday, guranteed. Kiffin is our coach and if any of you think there is someone better, then your blind. Let me guess, Fulmer should still be there so he can maybe win eight games next year. Give me a break, I am a football god and this is what UT needs. GO VOLS and welcome Lane. NOT LAME you dip$%&^&.
blitzshoot writes:
we could install porta toilets, keep him away from interviews and let him recruit?
Volunatic writes:
When you mention "Coach K" I can't help but think "Krzyzewski". Maybe UT can hire him if Pearl goes to the Bucks.
govols87 writes:
that was the reason for my skepticism...Matt Barkley is NOT decommitting from USC....LOAD OF phooey
GrandNorthFace48 writes:
And you people get upset when the rest of the country mocks the south for their idiotic behavior. Your comments and behavior are nothing short of idiotic and reminds me of the humor of Mark Twain and his herd mentality examples.
Why don't you people get a life?
I have the perfect solution. Replace Neyland Stadium with a new nursing/healthcare/pharmacy facility in it's place. Let college be what it was intended for, academics. You football igmo's care more about sports than the academic health of the university. Have any of you supporters out there given a donation to the academic departments that are facing huge budget cuts this year? I truly hope you get what you deserve, a coach merry-go-round that will put Tenn. football at the bottom of the SEC for the next 20 years.
blitzshoot writes:
I was hoping for Whittingham too, but hopefully Kiffen can create a great staff and have some success recruiting.
We'll see. I'm just glad to see this circus come to an end and start observing some changes that are needed. I hope Kiffen places some discipline back into the program.
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