NewsChannel5.com | Nashville News, Weather & SportsVols To Hire Kiffin

Vols To Hire Kiffin

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Saturday is Phillip Fulmer Appreciation Day at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville.

But the big news coming out of Knoxville surrounds his successor.

The University of Tennessee has reached an agreement with Lane Kiffin, the former Oakland Raiders coach, sources said.

A formal announcement is expected Monday to introduce Kiffen as the new head football coach.

Athletic director Mike Hamilton wanted a guy who would infuse some energy into the program, and the 33-year-old certainly fits that description, said NewsChannel 5 sports reporter Eric Yutzy.

He will be making his college head coaching debut by succeeding Fulmer, who coaches his last game for the Vols on Saturday.

Kiffin reportedly talked with his father, Monte Kiffin of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers about joining him in Knoxville. The elder Kiffin is the longest-tenured defensive coordinator in the National Football League.

The Oakland Raiders fired Lane Kiffin earlier this season after compiling a 5-15 record in a year and a half. Some think he didn't get a fair shake with the Raiders. Count Tennessee Titans Head Coach Jeff Fisher as subscribing to that school of thought.

"I got to know Lane in the short time here in the league and I thought Lane was very, very prepared.  I though, at the time, he did a great job communicating. He went into a very, very difficult situation there in Oakland. And I thought he handled things professionally. He certainly had that team moving in the right direction. And the opinion of his peers, that would include me, he didn't get a chance to finish. I think he would be a great college coach."

Kiffin will become just the fifth head coach at the University of Tennessee in the last 45 years.

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