Kiffin Introduced As Coach Of Vols
Posted: Tue Dec 02, 2008 3:54 pm
Knoxville, TN -- (Sports Network) - The University of Tennessee made it official Monday and formally introduced Lane Kiffin as the 21st head football coach in school history.
"I met with all of our players last night and they are definitely excited in the direction we are going," said Kiffin. "I felt really good about Tennessee from the start and I am thrilled to be here. We will do things right, but give us time and be patient."
Kiffin, fired as head coach of the NFL's Oakland Raiders earlier this year, is replacing longtime Vols head coach Phillip Fulmer, who announced earlier this month he would not return for an 18th season with his alma mater.
"I'm not trying to be him," said Kiffin about Fulmer. "The Tennessee program would not be where it is without him and he has been a great influence on this school."
The 33-year-old Kiffin was let go by the Raiders on October 1 after Oakland got off to a 1-3 start this year. He had a 5-15 record in a season and a half with the Silver and Black, leaving in a bitter war of words with Raiders owner Al Davis. However, Kiffin did thank Davis at the press conference for giving him his first head coaching job.
Prior to taking over the Raiders, Kiffin was an assistant on Pete Carroll's staff at the University of Southern California, eventually being elevated to offensive coordinator for the 2005 and 2006 seasons. He also assumed the role of recruiting coordinator for those seasons.
http://www.wsmv.com/cfoot605/18180444/detail.html
"I met with all of our players last night and they are definitely excited in the direction we are going," said Kiffin. "I felt really good about Tennessee from the start and I am thrilled to be here. We will do things right, but give us time and be patient."
Kiffin, fired as head coach of the NFL's Oakland Raiders earlier this year, is replacing longtime Vols head coach Phillip Fulmer, who announced earlier this month he would not return for an 18th season with his alma mater.
"I'm not trying to be him," said Kiffin about Fulmer. "The Tennessee program would not be where it is without him and he has been a great influence on this school."
The 33-year-old Kiffin was let go by the Raiders on October 1 after Oakland got off to a 1-3 start this year. He had a 5-15 record in a season and a half with the Silver and Black, leaving in a bitter war of words with Raiders owner Al Davis. However, Kiffin did thank Davis at the press conference for giving him his first head coaching job.
Prior to taking over the Raiders, Kiffin was an assistant on Pete Carroll's staff at the University of Southern California, eventually being elevated to offensive coordinator for the 2005 and 2006 seasons. He also assumed the role of recruiting coordinator for those seasons.
http://www.wsmv.com/cfoot605/18180444/detail.html
