Coach search at full speed

Part One: UT AD Mike Hamilton on Kiffin's departure

Mike Hamilton didn't reveal any specifics.

The Tennessee athletic director wouldn't talk about travel plans, didn't describe ideal candidates and most certainly would not reveal his short-list of possible replacements for former coach Lane Kiffin.

But as the secrecy and silence swirled around Hamilton's second search for a coach in 14 months on Wednesday, at least one target was willing to step forward and admit he was involved in the process. That doesn't make interim coach Kippy Brown more appealing than Texas defensive coordinator Will Muschamp or Air Force coach Troy Calhoun, but it did earn him distinction as the only one publicly involved in the bid to take over at UT.

"Well, I was told I am (a candidate)," Brown said. "I think that I'm a legitimate candidate for the job, I do. And the reason I say that is I'm very confident in my ability to coach, to recruit, I've proven that when I was here before.

"I've coached at Tennessee on SEC championship teams, I've gone into out-of-state areas and brought back All-American recruits. I've been there and done that, and I feel confident in my ability to get it done. Yes, I think I'm a legitimate candidate."

Whether that ultimately makes him the ideal one for Hamilton remains to be seen, but it shouldn't take long to receive a verdict.

Despte the lack of many details from him, Hamilton did make clear he can't afford to waste time with recruits scheduled for visits this week and National Signing Day creeping up on Feb. 3. An announcement on Kiffin's successor could come as early as Friday and ideally no later than Sunday, putting Hamilton under the gun to get through the interview process quickly.

"I can assure you that just as our players slap that sign that they will give their all for Tennessee today, that is what we are doing right now," Hamilton said. "The search process has begun. It began as soon as I was notified of coach Kiffin leaving for the University of Southern California.

"I don't like to put too many timetables on anything of this nature, but everybody knows that we are about to hit a live recruiting period again and this is an absolutely critical time for our program as it relates to wrapping up recruiting and approaching signing day. I would rather be a day late to ensure that we've got the right person. However, that being said and because of the work that has already been done and the work that is being done and the work that will be done, we are going to bring this to closure as quickly as possible to find the right person for The University of Tennessee."

The Vols appear to have narrowed their sights on a few guys who fit the bill, with Muschamp and Calhoun seemingly generating the most interest. However, late Wednesday, Muschamp looks like he will remain Texas’ coach-in-waiting behind Mack Brown. He issued a statement through a Texas spokesperson saying, “I”m happy at Texas and plan to be here for a long time.”

Calhoun has been largely silent so far, and he neither confirmed nor denied interest in the UT job to The Denver Post.

Former UT offensive coordinator David Cutcliffe of Duke, Connecticut coach Randy Edsall and Brown figure to also be in the mix, and collectively the pool is at least a reflection of the cachet the job still holds nationally.

"There's been a lot of doom and gloom around here, and I don't buy into that," Brown said. "With all the doom and gloom that's going on around here, this is still Tennessee. It was Tennessee before I got here, it's Tennessee now and it will be Tennessee long after I'm gone. That's special.

"It's not the coaches. It's the fanbase, it's the institution and it's the players that make this thing special. That's where I stand, that's how I feel, and it's not doom and gloom. We're going to make the best of this situation, we're going to have some recruits in this weekend and it's going to be full-speed ahead. Whoever Mike decides to go with, we'll make the best of it. I'm glad to be here, I can't foresee the future and what's going to happen, but right now I'm glad to be at Tennessee."

Even if he doesn't get to keep the head-coaching job permanently, Brown indicated he plans on staying there anyway.

But whether he's becoming the boss or meeting a new one, sooner is better for everybody involved.

"What we have to do is let this thing take its course," Brown said. "There's going to be some (recruits) that get mad and say they're not coming now, but then you hire a head coach and get him in place - all of a sudden Tennessee looks good again. So that's where we are right now. It's just going to take a little time until we get a head coach in place to massage those feelings that they have.

"Hopefully the head coach is in place though, because it's a little awkward when you bring them in for a visit and the head coach is not in place. Hopefully Mike gets that done at least by Saturday."

It could be earlier than that. The clock is ticking.