Lane Kiffin

NFL PlayerCoach


DateOfBirth=birth date and age|1975|5|9
Birthplace= Bloomington, Minnesota
College=Fresno State
Position=Head coach
Career Highlights=y
RegularRecord=5-15-0
PlayoffRecord=0-0
Record=5-15-0
PFRCoach=KiffLa0
coach=yes
coachingyears=1997-1998

1999-2000

2001

2002-2006

2005-2006

2007 - 2008
coachingteams=Fresno State
(quarterbacks coach)
Colorado State
(offensive line coach)
Southern California
(tight ends coach)
Southern California
(wide receivers coach)
Southern California
(offensive coordinator)
Oakland Raiders
(head coach)

Lane Kiffin (born May 9, 1975, in Bloomington, Minnesota) is the former head coach of the Oakland Raiders of the National Football League. He was previously the offensive coordinator for the University of Southern California Trojans. [ [http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2739645 USC O-coordinator Kiffin to be named Raiders coach] ] Age 31 at the time of his hiring (32 when he coached his first NFL game), Kiffin became the youngest head coach in National Football League history; he also surpassed the New York Jets' Eric Mangini and the Pittsburgh Steelers' Mike Tomlin as the youngest head coach since the AFL-NFL merger in 1970.

Background

He is the son of veteran college and NFL coach Monte Kiffin, who currently serves as defensive coordinator for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Kiffin is a 1994 graduate of Bloomington Jefferson High School in Minnesota and a 1998 graduate of Fresno State. He played backup quarterback for the Bulldogs and gave up his senior season to become a Student Assistant Coach at Fresno State University, where his position coach was current University of California Head Coach Jeff Tedford. He earned his bachelor degree from Fresno State in 1998 where he played football, basketball and baseball. Kiffin also worked as a Graduate Assistant for one year at Colorado State University.In 1999, working with the offensive line, the Rams played in the Liberty Bowl that season. Kiffin's dad helped him secure a job with the Jacksonville JaguarsFact|date=September 2008 as a quality control assistant for one year. Lane was then hired by one of his father's former assistant coaches, Pete Carroll, as a tight ends coach at USC.

His wife's name is Layla (whose father is John Reaves, former assistant for the University of Florida football team). They have two daughters: Landry, 3 and Pressley, 1. His brother, Chris, was a defensive lineman at Colorado State (2001-04) and is currently an assistant coach at the University of Mississippi.

University of Southern California

Kiffin joined the USC staff in 2001 as a tight ends coach and became the wide receivers coach in 2002. In 2004, he added the duties of passing game coordinator and was promoted to offensive coordinator in 2005. Kiffin also took the reins as recruiting coordinator that year, after offensive coordinator Norm Chow left USC for the same position with the NFL's Tennessee Titans. Along with these duties, Kiffin continued as the wide receivers coach.

During Kiffin’s tenure with USC, he was instrumental in the development of several wide receivers and tight ends in the program. While he was there, USC produced noted talents such as NFL draftees Mike Williams, Keary Colbert, Kareem Kelly, Alex Holmes and Dominique Byrd. In addition, Steve Smith and Dwayne Jarrett of the 2006 USC Trojans football team were both selected in the second round of the 2007 NFL draft by the New York Giants and the Carolina Panthers, respectively. Patrick Turner, Fred Davis and several other young new recruits such as Vidal Hazelton, Travon Patterson and Jamere Holland seem likely to continue the trend of excellence at this position. Notably, Lane Kiffin also helped amass the number-one recruiting class in the nation, the past several years (as evaluated by organizations such as Scout.com and Rivals.com).

In 2005, USC head coach Pete Carroll selected Kiffin to replace Norm Chow as offensive coordinator. Despite being new to the role, Lane Kiffin helped guide USC to a 23-3 win-loss record during his tenure in this capacity (an 88% win percentage). During the previous four years under Norm Chow’s play calling, the Trojans achieved 41 wins and 9 losses (82%). Under Kiffin in 2005 the USC offense produced school records in virtually every dimension, averaging 49.1 points and 579 yards per game. USC’s potent offense that season became the first in NCAA history to have a 3,000 yard passer (Matt Leinart), two 1,000 yard rushers (Reggie Bush & LenDale White), and a 1,000 yard receiver (Dwayne Jarrett). Steve Smith fell a few yards short of also surpassing 1,000 yards in receiving. With an all new offensive cast at the skill positions and in what was generally viewed as a rebuilding year for USC the offensive totals fell off to 30.5 point, and 391 yards per game, and 11 wins overall, he was promoted to offensive and recruiting coordinator while continuing as the wide receivers coach. In Kiffin’s three years as recruiting coordinator at USC, the Trojans had the No. 1 ranked recruiting class in college football every year. Under Kiffin leadership in 2006, the Trojans finished first in the Pac-10 in passing efficiencyby averaging 142.8 yards per game, produced two, 1,000-yard receivers - Dwayne Jarrett (1,105) and Steve Smith (1,083) - and a 3,000-yard passer John David Booty, with 3,347 yards. Injuries affected the team all year as three fullbacks went down to major injury by the third game of the year, several freshman running backs rotated as starting tailback, and wide receiver Dwayne Jarrett missed parts of the mid-season due to injury. Despite these losses and key injuries the team produced top 20 statistics in most NCAA offensive categories and concluded with an impressive 32-18 win over the then #3 ranked team the University of Michigan in the Rose Bowl.

Despite all the teams achievements, Kiffin's work with the Trojans over his two-year period as offensive coordinator is sometimes harshly judged for what it did not accomplish – win national championships – as compared to the previous two seasons in 2003 and 2004.Or|date=August 2008Fact|date=August 2008 Furthermore offensive play-calling responsibilities for USC were shared during this period with QB coach Steve Sarkisian having on-the-field approval for Kiffin’s suggestions and head coach Pete Carroll maintaining veto power. Lack of clarity and final say over play calling responsibility has left some controversy over how much decision making power Kiffin wielded versus Sarkisian and Carroll during his two-year tenure as offensive coordinator.Or|date=August 2008Fact|date=August 2008

After an upset loss to the UCLA Bruins to close the 2006 season, eliminating USC from the 2006 BCS title game, there were reports in the news media that previous coordinator Norm Chow publicly criticized the young coordinator along with quarterbacks coach Steve Sarkisian. He was interviewed by the "Orange County Register".

Other sources however point out that Chow's comments were taken out of context in this regard and did not reflect his intended meaning. These reports indicate the following conversation ensued over the airwaves.

The contents of the interview are available for download at KLAC 570AM radio's website [ [http://www.570klac.com/cc-common/podcast.html AM 570 KLAC podcasts] ] Kiffin, Walker and Chow were all coaches on the 2001 Trojans team.

Oakland Raiders

Raiders' owner Al Davis hired Kiffin on January 23, 2007, making him the youngest head coach in Raiders history, and the youngest head coach since the formation of the modern NFL. Pro Football Hall of Fame Coach John Madden was 32 when he was elevated to the head post by Davis in 1969. [Pokorny, Chris. [http://www.pfcritics.com/news101/RaidersGoYoungNameLaneKiff.php Raiders Go Young, Name Lane Kiffin as Head Coach] , Pro Football Critics, January 23, 2007] Davis has been known to select young, up-and-coming coaches in their thirties; those hires who fared well include Tom Flores, John Madden, Mike Shanahan and Jon Gruden. All have won Super Bowls, though Madden and Flores are the only ones to win a championship with the Raiders.

On August 12, 2007, in his NFL head coaching debut, Kiffin and the Raiders won their preseason opener 27–23 over the Arizona Cardinals.

Lane Kiffin recorded his first regular season win as a NFL head coach on September 23, 2007; the Raiders defeated the Cleveland Browns 26–24 when defensive lineman Tommy Kelly blocked a late Cleveland field goal.

At his end-of-the-season press conference, Kiffin told the media and his players that he had many plans and changes he was going to make in the 2008 offseason. When asked by his players about rumors that Kiffin was interested in open coaching positions in college football, he told them he never thought the rumors were important enough to address because he was never planning to leave. [Jones, Jason. [http://www.sacbee.com/100/story/602420.html Kiffin turns attention to future] , "The Sacramento Bee", January 1, 2008]

Departure

On January 25, 2008, it was reported by ESPN's Chris Mortensen that owner Al Davis drafted a letter of resignation for Kiffin to sign after his first season with a record of 4–12. A source allegedly close to Kiffin told Mortensen that Kiffin would not resign, and would not sign the letter of resignation which would cause him to forfeit his $2 million salary for the remaining guaranteed year of his contract. [Mortensen, Chris. [http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3214665 Raiders coach refuses to heed Davis' call to resign] , ESPN.com, January 25, 2008] However, the Raiders denied the story, while Kiffin has refused to comment. [Citation |last= |first= |title=Raiders deny report they asked Kiffin to resign |url=http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/7721250?MSNHPHMA |publisher="Fox Sports" |date=2008-01-25 |accessdate=2008-01-25]

Kiffin's job status was subject to many rumors and reports before and during the 2008 NFL season, with one fan going so far as to start [http://haslanekiffinbeenfired.com a website] devoted solely to updating fans as to whether or not he had been relieved of his duties. On September 15, 2008 NBC Sports reported Oakland Raiders owner Al Davis was unhappy with coach Lane Kiffin and could fire him as soon the following Monday or Tuesday. He was not fired until Tuesday, September 30, 2008, when Raiders majority owner Al Davis fired Kiffin over the telephone. ["ESPN": cite web |url=http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3617977 |title=Sources: Raiders finally fire Kiffin, consider promoting assistants |format= |work= |accessdate=2008-09-30] At the televised news conference announcing the firing, Davis called Kiffin "a flat-out liar" and said he was guilty of "bringing disgrace to the organization".Fact|date=October 2008 The Raiders said the move was made for cause, meaning they will likely try not to pay Kiffin for the remainder of his contract. He signed a two-year deal worth about $4 million with a team option for 2009 when he took over in 2007. Kiffin later added in an interview with ESPN that he wasn't proud to be associated with Davis's accusations and was actually more embarrassed for Davis than himself. [ [http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-spw-kiffin2-2008oct02,0,5680814.story?track=rss "Raiders' Lane Kiffin won't talk back . . . yet" Los Angeles Times] ] Kiffin's post firing press conference was cancelled and a spokesperson said he plans to appeal his dismissal without pay to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.

Kiffin's departure is compared to that of Shanahan, who was fired by the Raiders in 1989 after a similar 1-3 start before going on to a successful stint with the rival Denver Broncos. (The Raiders finished that season 8-8 under Art Shell, who ironically would later be replaced by Kiffin after being fired from his second stint as head coach.) When asked about Kiffin's situation at his weekly press conference the day after Kiffin's dismissal, Shanahan admitted that he hasn't had time to look at Kiffin's situation but said jokingly that it was unjustified that Kiffin had 34 more days of work despite losing three more games than himself. [ [http://www.upi.com/Sports_News/2008/10/01/Shanahan_comments_on_Kiffins_ouster/UPI-66011222892339/ "Shanahan comments on Kiffin's ouster" - UPI.com] ]

Lane Kiffin's 20 game stint as Raiders coach ended with a 5-15 record. Offensive line coach Tom Cable was given head coaching duties for the rest of the 2008 Season.

References

External links

* [http://usctrojans.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/kiffin_lane00.html USC Trojans bio]
* [http://www.raiders.com/Team/CoachBio.aspx?id=532 Oakland Raiders bio]