RSS
|
Mobile
|
Daily Emails
|
We Twitter
| Make us your home page
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Even though Tennessee's new coach is the youngest one to lead a major program, Lane Kiffin has been around football for almost all of his 33 years.
The former coach of the NFL's Oakland Raiders and son of longtime NFL defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin, is five months younger than the previous youngest coach in the Bowl Subdivision, Northwestern's Pat Fitzgerald.
He's the Volunteers' 21st coach but only the third in the last 32 years. His selection came after "the first national search for a football coach in University of Tennessee history," athletic director Mike Hamilton said.
He took over the Volunteers two days after Phillip Fulmer's 17-season tenure ended with a win over Kentucky and has a six-year contract worth $2 million in 2009 with the chance for bonuses.
"I'm extremely honored to follow him," Kiffin said. "I'm not trying to be him. All I'm trying to do is carry on some of the things he's done."
Kiffin was the youngest coach in the NFL's modern history when hired to lead the Oakland Raiders in January 2007 at age 31 after spending two seasons as Southern California's recruiting and offensive coordinator.
*
Wyoming hires Missouri's Christensen: The architect of the offense that vaulted Missouri back to national prominence and helped make quarterback Chase Daniel the school's first Heisman Trophy finalist is moving on to become the next head coach at Wyoming.
Missouri coach Gary Pinkel confirmed Monday that his offensive coordinator, Dave Christensen, would take the Wyoming job vacated when Joe Glenn was fired Nov. 23 after four losing seasons in six years.
Christensen expects the hiring to be finalized on Tuesday.
"It's a great state and it has rich football tradition," Christensen said. "They've got a lot of great kids, blue-collar kids that work extremely hard and are extremely dedicated."
Christensen's offense at Missouri ranked fourth in the nation with a 45-point average and was also fourth in passing (344 yards per game) and sixth in total offense (509 ypg).
*
Clemson keeping Swinney: CLEMSON, S.C. -- Clemson is sticking with Dabo Swinney, giving the Tigers' interim coach a five-year contract Monday to replace former boss Tommy Bowden.
Swinney's salary and possible incentives in the deal won't be released until the contract is approved by the university's Board of Trustees Compensation Committee.
Athletic director Terry Don Phillips said Swinney was one of college football's bright young coaches and he was proud to lock him up long-term.
