USC hires Lane Kiffin; Tennessee coaching search is on and more
Lane Kiffin has agreed to become Southern California's new coach after one season at Tennessee. A news conference has been called for Tuesday morning. (Photo: Associated Press).
Spurned by Mike Riley and Jack Del Rio after Pete Carroll’s abrupt departure to the NFL, the Trojans turned to a former assistant coming off a 7-6 season in his first year as college coach.
I like the hire, to be honest, though that’s not the popular opinion across the Internet or in Knoxville. Kiffin’s young and bold and he’ll be able to salvage USC’s recruiting class, though pending NCAA violations may do a number on the program in the end.
Yahoo Sports columnist Dan Wetzel thinks the might move work, too, and already Kiffin’s assembled some high-profile assistants, including recruiting coordinator Ed Orgeron, who encouraged Tennessee's early enrollees not to attend class today and follow him and Kiffin to USC instead.
Former Lions assistant Kippy Brown was named interim coach of Tennessee, though speculation of Kiffin’s successor centers around Texas defensive coordinator WIll Muschamp.
A least one Tennessee writer considers Rich Rodriguez a viable candidate, too. Rodriguez, it should be noted, has a $4 million buyout.
MORE COLLEGE FOOTBALL • East Carolina coach Skip Holtz continues to emerge as the frontrunner for the South Florida job, a gig Michigan offensive coordinator Calvin Magee interviewed for on Monday.
• Former Ohio State assistant Mark Snyder has interviewed for a job on Rich Rodriguez's defensive staff at Michigan. The post is expected to be filled by next week.
COLLEGE BASKETBALL • Jordan Dumars spoke about his transfer to play basketball at Michigan.
• Ohio State’s Evan Turner and Purdue’s Robbie Hummel had an epic duel on the basketball court.
ALSO: • Don't expect to see any World Cup soccer at Michigan Stadium, the Detroit Free Press reports.
Dave Birkett covers University of Michigan football for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached by phone at 734-623-2552 or by e-mail at davidbirkett@annarbor.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.
Comments
truebluefan
Wed, Jan 13, 2010 : 2 p.m.
I think the NCAA is licking its chops right now. They are going to drop the sanction hammer on USC and Kiffin and kill two birds with one stone. The fallout drama will be better than Jersey Shore.
Yogi
Wed, Jan 13, 2010 : 1:30 p.m.
At least now when the NCAA hands down their judgement of "Lack of Institutional control" USC can't say that this coaching had nothing to do with it. Because they were there during the Reggie Bush episode. USC fool me once "shame on you" fool me twice "shame on me" and they should know better.
81wolverine
Wed, Jan 13, 2010 : 9:51 a.m.
USC can have Lane Kiffin. He's a 2nd rate pick and is likely to continue the NCAA violation record started by the previous regime.