While Lane Kiffin isn't thought to be a strong candidate to take over at Southern California, his contract at Tennessee would appear to make such a move feasible.
According to the terms of his contract, the Vols' head football coach would incur an $800,000 penalty if he were to leave for another job during this off-season. Moreover, those buyouts are often paid by the school that makes the hire.
Kiffin has strong ties to USC, which is looking for a coach to replace Pete Carroll, who was hired Monday by the Seattle Seahawks as head coach.
Kiffin coached at USC from 2001 to 2006. He was hired as tight ends coach and promoted to offensive coordinator and recruiting coordinator before leaving to become head coach of the Oakland Raiders in January 2007.
Reportedly, Kiffin isn't a likely replacement for Carroll, partly because the 34-year-old has only one year of experience as a college head coach.
The Los Angeles Times reported that Oregon State coach Mike Riley was USC's first target, but Riley signed a three-year contract extension and said publicly he has no intentions of leaving Oregon State.
The Times reported that Jacksonville Jaguars head coach, Jack Del Rio, who played linebacker at USC, is the next likely target.
Steve Sarkisian, who completed his first year as head coach at Washington after leaving USC as an assistant, also is considered a candidate.
Sarkisian and Kiffin were co-coordinators at USC before Kiffin left for the NFL.
Kiffin's highly publicized NCAA issues could work against him at USC.
The Trojans are dealing with serious NCAA issues, including former tailback Reggie Bush's alleged acceptance of gifts and housing for his parents. The Trojans self-imposed penalties for their recruitment of basketball star O.J. Mayo and the alleged gifts he received while a student-athlete.
In his contract which was signed last month, Kiffin was cited with six secondary violations. UT also self-reported another possible violation to the SEC when recruiting intern Steve Rubio traveled to South Florida on a recruiting trip.
The NCAA has been looking into possible violations concerning two hostesses traveling to Duncan, S.C., to see two prospects play in a high school game. The hostess issue received extensive national exposure.
The Southern Cal opening could still cause dominoes to fall all the way to Knoxville. UT recruiting coordinator Ed Orgeron also has strong ties to USC and could be approached by whomever the Trojans hire as defensive coordinator or recruiting coordinator.
Orgeron coached at USC from 1998 to 2004 before going to Ole Miss as head coach. At USC, Orgeron coached the defensive line and was eventually named associate head coach and recruiting coordinator.
Orgeron told the News Sentinel last month that he is committed to UT despite other job openings.
USC and UT have proved they are willing to compete financially for coaches. Carroll reportedly made $4.4 million annually. Kiffin makes only $2 million per year at UT, but his assistant coaches are among the highest paid in the nation.
Kiffin has declined comment on the USC vacancy.
© 2010, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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Comments » 285
back2backchamps writes:
Most Jaguar fans are hoping that Del Rio gets the USC job. If he does, the Vols may have to worry about losing coach O. Del Rio will have to get some strong recruiters, as he has been away from recruiting for a while now.
516milesfromUT writes:
?
golfballs03 writes:
Not a strong candidate because he only has 1 year of experience? Sorry, I know the national media drools over USC, but they are overrated as a program. Sure they've had their good years, but they've also been miserable for a lot of years. I've heard Jeff Fisher's name dropped... you have got to be kidding me
FirstAndGoal writes:
Please translate to English next time, Grudenite.
TurboFan writes:
What happens when a coach follows a legend? Nobody should want that job until somebody else has failed to live up to expectations. Look for Lane to be a candidate in four years.
CoachFulmer writes:
Fish will stay in Nashville. He's been on that ship too long and Bud Adams won't see him leave in his lifetime. Wouldn't be suprised if Del Rio took the job. He had an off year and probably wants a fresh start somewhere.
FirstAndGoal writes:
Lane Kiffin has a job to do. 'Nuf said.
GO VOLS!!
FirstAndGoal writes:
That anyone would even write an article about Kiffin leaving after one year is ludicrous.
Quit tailgating on someone else's dumb article, Hooker!
Thad123 writes:
I posted yesterday about the Coach O thing and got hammered for it. ESPN has been reporting that he would like to join the staff in some role. The wording of it was got me worried "that he would like to join the staff" . I hope not.
99gator writes:
this is just an insanely bad post.
they are one of the top 10 programs in all of college football for all time.
and of those top 10......they have a much better potential for future success than notre dame, michigan, nebraska, etc, etc, etc.
volfalcon writes:
I believe I've heard more than one of you gator trolls say O and the VOLS staff sucked. Are you suddenly a good reference for him. Sort of ridin the fence ain't ya. Just sayin, good or bad??? Which is it???
BolivarBob writes:
Kiffin not even mentioned so why this fairy tale article? and Pete Carrol ain't no legend.
VolnotHAMILTONfan writes:
USC wants to get as far away from all of these guys as they can. The NCAA will hit them hard. Sarkisian would be a candidate if the top 3 or so do not pan out. Lane would be so far down the list it is funny. The LA times did a big story on candidates and Lane was never mentioned. Hammy is the only one to make that mistake.
For my sake, USC please hire Lil Lane.
FirstAndGoal writes:
There are no sanctions.
volfalcon writes:
DEEEWWW WHAAAT??? Your credibility just went into MINUS------- territory. Get a life and get out of your momma's basement. Be thankful you have a momma that love's ya. It's apparent nobody else does. Idiot!!
Stark_Vol writes:
haha awesome
FirstAndGoal writes:
Really? What's your first "lang"?
volfalcon writes:
Nothin but wasted air. Global warming has arrived in January. BhaaaaAaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaHaaaaaaaLOL
Bloodrunzorange writes:
Why no comment from CLK? Does he think this article is stupid to? He should come out and put this to bed fast! Go Vols!!
ProwlinAndGrowlinSmokeyDog writes:
I'll answer for him:The troll language is his first language!!
Madkels writes:
No one great will want that job for a few years. Why?
1) Threat of sanctions
2) Not good to follow a great coach. If you are just slightly off, especially with sanctions, the fans will eat your lunch adn make life miserable.
3) USC is no longer the only power in the PAC-10. Oregon, Oregon St., UCLA, Arizona, and now Washington have all improved or are improving. USC doesn't dominate the west coast as they did a few short years ago.
volfalcon writes:
TOUCHDOWN!!!! GO VOLS!!!!
FirstAndGoal writes:
This article warrants no comment from Kiffin. He's kinda very busy recruiting.
USNVOL writes:
Hey richardface get off your mama's computer and go back to the basement where you belong.
I bet she is proud of you, the troll with the most post on another teams site...loser!
FirstAndGoal writes:
And yours is an insanely worse post. You wish Kiffin would leave Tennessee. You wish, you wish, you wish...
GO VOLS!!
TommyJack writes:
He's from Pilates.
golfballs03 writes:
they are overrated.
http://www.forbes.com/2009/12/22/most...
CLEMSONVOL716WASBANNED writes:
If CLK makes a comment about not being interested, everyone will bring up Nick Saban's statements about him not coaching Bama. Either way, comment or no comment, CLK has nothing to gain. So it is probably better to say nothing.
FirstAndGoal writes:
Ahhh, he's European.
AllforTenn writes:
Why the headline, then rambling about "strong ties" and other drivel? Why even write such an article to start with?
Thad123 writes:
I don't know how much that will affect this situation. Look at Steve Spurrier he took the South Carlina job after Lou Holtz had put them on probation and that was South Carolina.
IMO something is going on with coach O. Thats why they wrote this article and possibly why no comment from CLK. Here is part of what ESPN is reporting
Sources tell the L.A. Daily News' Scott Wolf that AD Mike Garrett would like former offensive coordinator Norm Chow, now at UCLA, back in Troy and that former assistant Ed Orgeron would like to rejoin the staff in some capacity. Both are now possibilities, with Jeremy Bates accepting the offensive coordinator job alongside Pete Carroll in Seattle, and Ken Norton Jr. following Carroll as linebackers coach.
ProwlinAndGrowlinSmokeyDog writes:
I think we have CLK for several more years, which will be AFTER WE HAVE SOME SUCCESS, LIKE POSSIBLY WINNING CHAMPIONSHIPS!!
King_Scuba writes:
Wasn't worried about it until I saw the "no comment" from Kiffin. Hope that doesn't mean he is being approached. I don't buy that he is not a strong candidate for the position and he doesn't make that much compared to other top name coaches.
all_vols writes:
If you are not DC .... you must be another DA!!!
volfan2010dot1 writes:
After this year, I am sure Kiffin would take USC if asked, and I know most Vols know that too. But USC really doesn't need any more trouble with the NCAA so they won't offer Kiffin.
mountainbrook writes:
Pending NCAA sanctions against USC will stop a lot of coaches from going there.
volfalcon writes:
Are you suggesting the LAINTRAIN is about to arrive??
Thad123 writes:
You still can't keep your word DC your not suppoed to be here for a week.
FirstAndGoal writes:
Good.
~ Fear the Kiffin ~
volsfan74 writes:
Do you think its possible that CLK is happy in K-Ville? And maybe he is no more interested in USC than USC is interested in him. I don't think CLK hired his dad away from the NFL to abandon him a year later. And all you CLK haters I don't want you jumping on the band wagon 2 years from now when we are in the top 5 and playing for a national championship. Support your team, coach and university or find you another team to support or not support would be more appropriate.
BSweet writes:
If Del Rio takes the USC job, expect the rumors of the Jags drafting Tebow and hiring Meyer as coach to heat up.
volfalcon writes:
DITTO! AMEN!
LCfastball writes:
Lane is wishing for a phone call, and Coach " O " is good as gone.........................
Thad123 writes:
News out of Cali is saying that it is looking like Del Rio HC, Norm Chow OC, and Ed O DC.
phooey
volfalcon writes:
Sweet, BSweet! LOL!
snowvol writes:
Overrated as a program? Would you like UT to be overrated like that? I would. Multiple national championships and Heisman Trophy winners in the same decade. Sure, SC has had some miserable years... but miserable for "a lot of years?" Better check your record book. The Trojans were 3-8 in 1991 and from '91 to '01, they were a combined 71-58-3. After that, when Pete Carroll arrived they were arguably the dominant program of the decade, save for this season. And before that - again, you really need to brush up on your facts. From 1972 to 1990 alone, SC's record was 168-53-7.
Care to go all the way back to 1888? USC has had 19 losing seasons. 19. The numbers don't lie. Yeah, give me UT teams with those kinds of numbers. That's "miserable" I could live with.
LCfastball writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
volfalcon writes:
Link?
volfalcon writes:
Sorry, I didn't see Phooey.
Volnupstate writes:
I think Kiffin would consider the USC job for the salary Carroll was making-4.4 million...who wouldn't leave for that kind of money...more than double your current salary....go from the 21st highest paid coach to the 2nd highest. Plus his wife would love to be back in Cali. It could very well happen. But before you get your feathers ruffled, just remember, Jon Gruden will be there to be the next UT head coach. I'm not sure about the off coordinator job, but would love to see Norm Chow, but that would be a long shot.
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