Lane Kiffin to USC
Tennessee head coach and former USC assistant Lane Kiffin will be USC's next head football coach.
Kiffin replaces Pete Carroll, who accepted the head coaching position of the Seattle Seahawks after nine seasons at USC. The 34-year-old Kiffin was an assistant under Carroll from 2001-2006, working as the offensive coordinator in 2005 and 2006. Kiffin also has NFL coaching experience with the short stint as the head coach of the Oakland Raiders.
"We are really excited to welcome Lane Kiffin back to USC," USC athletic director Mike Garrett said in a statement yesterday. "Lane brings a lot to the table. He has a coaching background both in the pros and in the best collegiate conferences. He has a great command of the X's and O's. He is familiar with the Trojan landscape and will be a great representative of our university. He keeps the game fun. And, very importantly, he has proven to be one of the finest recruiters anywhere."
"It's great news," starting quarterback Matt Barkley told ESPNLosAngeles.com's Steve Mason. "I remember meeting Kiff way back on the recruiting trail when I was a freshman in high school. I liked him when I met him. I like that he knows how to live and breath the Trojan way."
Kiffin will bring Ed Orgeron and Monte Kiffin as assistants. Orgeron was an assistant under Carroll at USC and under Lane Kiffin at Tennessee. Orgeron was also the head coach at Ole Miss for 3 seasons and is a noted recruiter.
Monte Kiffin, Lane's father, is known for his defensive genius with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Garrett added, "Lane has surrounded himself with others of similar talent. I can't tell you how delighted we are to have Ed Orgeron back on staff and to have Monte Kiffin join us. They are some of the preeminent coaches in the game. Ed did a marvelous job during his previous time at USC and we all know that Monte is a defensive guru. I know Lane will fill out his staff with other outstanding assistants like them, ones who Trojan players and fans will really like."
An introductory press conference is scheduled for 5pm today in Heritage Hall.
