Lane Kiffin: The Transition is Gonna be Tough

When Lane Kiffin was named Tennessee’s new head coach, some people cheered, which others were skeptical. News over the past week has proven that this is going to be a rocky transition for the Vols.

First off, there is a bit of controversy about Kiffin’s choices of support staff. He announced on Monday that he hired David Reaves to be on his recruiting team. Reaves is Kiffin’s brother-in-law. There’s also reports that Monte Kiffin, his father and current Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive coordinator, will also be hired at Tennessee, though that’s just a rumor at this point.

Then there’s the potentially rule-breaking call Kiffin made to a recruit last week, before he was even announced as the Vols’ new head coach. Some are saying that he broke an NCAA rule by doing that, but Kiffin claims that he had his paperwork in order.

Add to that the fact that he’s young (33 years old), with little college football experience (just two years at USC as offensive coordinator where he shared play-calling duties), and no exactly the most glorious coach in history (at the Raiders, he went 5-15 and was fired half way through his second season). It doesn’t help matters that Tennessee officials denied they were hiring him just a day or two before making the announcement that they were going to hire him. Oh, and there’s his salary. It is expected to be more than the $2 million per year he was getting in Oakland.

I don’t know if Kiffin is ready for the SEC. I would have been happier to see him ease into college football at another school, but I have a feeling that no one in the Kiffin family “eases” anywhere. So, I guess the proof is in the puddin’? We’ll see how he does with putting together a staff, recruiting, and training in the spring…and then net season will be his real test.

Picture via Newscom.