No kidding, Tony Barnhart, it looks like Lane Kiffin will be the next head coach for Tennessee's football program. Kiffin has no previous ties to Knoxville or the South, other than a brief stint as an NFL underling for the Jaguars. He's been known as a solid offensive coordinator at USC, a good recruiter, and the son of Monte Kiffin, NFL defensive wizard. Kiffin is better known nationally as the boy that Al Davis hired to coach the Raiders in 2007. Davis fired him four games into the 2008 season after 20 games. Kiffin will be the youngest head coach in the FBS. (Image: USC)Most of the reports I've seen don't necessarily hype up Kiffin, but instead hype up the staff he could build. The first name mentioned is dear old dad, Monte. Kiffin the Elder is now the defensive coordinator at Tampa Bay, where he invented the Tampa 2 defense and rode it to a Super Bowl win. He is considered by many as one of the best defensive coordiantors in football. He'd be a very formidable presence in the SEC.
The other name consistently mentioned is Ed Orgeron, former Ole Miss head coach and current Saints assistant. The two coached together at USC and Kiffin took over the recruiting coordinator slot on that staff when Orgeron left for Oxford. Coach O might be a goofball and the punchline to a lot of jokes, but he can recruit. Just watch Ole Miss.
This is a a potential home run for UT and way better than the end I had foreseen. They just seemed destined for disappointment. Give some credit to Mike Hamilton for coming through with a hot name before the season is even over. If, and it's a big if, Monte and Coach O join the staff, Kiffin will have a powerful recruiter and a defensive X's and O's alchemist. Tennessee is the only traditional SEC power without a natural, native talent base to pull athletes from. Thus, UT has to recruit nationally. Kiffin has reeled in kids from all over the country at USC, so he's can attract elite athletes. Orgeron has proven he can sell Ole Miss to big recruits. Selling the Big Orange should be easier.
On the other hand, staffs are hardly ever composed of the first names floated. Kiffin's been a great recruiting coordinator, but it's easy to recruit to USC, where a kid can compete for a national title every year, hang out with Will Ferrell and Snoop Dog, and date a song girl. Is UT just as much of a national draw? Plus, the guy is ridiculously young. Is he ready for the intensity of SEC media, fanbases, and the other coaches in this league?
We'll find out what kind of recruiter Kiffin is quickly. Marlon Brown, the Memphis wideout, is down to us and UT by most accounts. The Vols were leading before Phillip got the ax. Brown was waiting to see who the new guy would be in Knoxville. I'd suppose Mr. Brown can expect some callers when the contact period begins tomorrow.
Quinton
17 comments:
4 seasons, 8-4 average with no SECC game appearances, and then fired.
I think it would be a great staff, but the top guy? I think I share your skepticism.
Forget the name and list the resume:
33 years old
2 years as CO-offensive coordinator *sharing* the playing duties at Southern Cal. Never The Guy exclusively accountable for the offense.
A head coaching record of 5-15 in the NFL.
Professionally, he's a kid. With a sketch resume.
This could work out HUGE. But it could just as easily blow up.
You buy a resume this young, you need to be ready to give him time for On the Job Training. UT has no such patience.
It's a bizarre hire. I'm glad they went with this
I'm not disagreeing with you, but one of the hottest names in coaching circles for the past 2-3 years has been Muschamp. He is what? 34, 35 years old.
And some of his experience was as a co-defensive coordinator with Saban.
Said differently...
How many 33 year olds are ready to be the face of a company with $70 million in annual revenues?
Richt was what 36? when we hired him and he had no head coaching experience. That seemed to work out well. I think UT will pull in some talent. I think this will really hurt south carolina as more south carolina kids will go to UT. If he can coach he will turn UT around quickly.
The Tennessee AD must be an Obama voter...
Richt was 40, and had a LOT more coordinating experience at a high level than Kiffin.
Richt was 40. He had been the full-time Offensive Coordinator for 7 years, plus the QB coach for another 5 years.
Kiffin was 5-15 at Oakland
He was the CO-oc (not even calling all the plays) at USC for 2 years
And WR coach for 4 years before that.
Muschamp is 37 and was the DC at LSU, Auburn, and Texas. Plus he was an Asst. HC for an NFL team.
That's not THAT much better than Kiffin's resume, but whatever.
I'm 31 and will entertain any head coaching positions in the the 2-3 million per range. If you know of any open positions send them my way.
NebraskaDawg
Guy looks like a young punk with the cheesy, TN ricky-stache and void blank stare, as if to say "I'm young but I'll kick your ass old man".
Welcome to TN Lane Kiffin.
Now go FCK yourself.
I don't think it's his age so much. I do think it's different in the south. He's an outsider and unless you have some thick skin and have grown up in these parts, it's hard to be successful. I realize money is different, but Danny Ford was 30 years old and in a few years turned it around up there at clem...but he played under Bear and was a southerner. I know this sounds weird but I think their is validity to it. Saban has thick skin and has been around for a while which is what it takes for an outsider.
Kiffin will be the "Ron Zook of TN"
No one wants to try and fill Fulmer's fat shoes but let Kiffin languish in the mediocrity for a couple of years and then there'll be plenty of top tier coaches willing to come "save" the program...
Wouldn't surprise me if TN is using this Florida business model hoping for their own Urban Meyer in a few years...
Speaking of the "Florida" model, I'm pulling hard for the Vatican to sell a piece of artwork and buy meyer from FL. The local Gators here in Jacksonville think the next coach will just cruise on in and continue right where the Pontif left off. Tebow and Harvin can leave and they think they'll be just as good.
Such arrogance.
I think Jim Martin and Saxby just bought out the commercials for this game as a block
Here's a coaching name for somebody:
1. He's 10 years older now than when his dad becaome the youngest head coach in the SEC.
2. He recruited the number one class in the nation for Nick Saban in 2001.
3. He's a Saban disciple having coached for Nick at LSU and at Miami (Dolphins).
4. He played ball at and has a law degree from Virginia.
5. He is young enough to relate well to players and can recruit LA, GA and probably most of the South.
6. He is currently head coach and athletic director at LA Tech and just had a pretty good year considering where he is and who they played with the talent they have.
His name is Derek Dooley.
I will gladly accept any HC or coordinator position. I will even take a job for 100 grand plus expenses. My resume is pretty thin, but I kick ass at NCAA 08 on X-Box.
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