Coaching Candidates: Lane Kiffin

The only coaching W-L record he has is with the Raiders, 5-15.

Kiffin has a degree from Fresno State in 1998, and is only 31 years old. While there he lettered in football, baseball, and basketball. His dad is Monte Kiffin, DC of the Buccaneers. One thing you may not remember is that Monte was HC of NC State and reported us to the NCAA in 1982, then he was run off for Tom Reed and then Dick Sheridan to come in. He joined Pete Carroll's staff at USC in 2001, and rose to Offensive Coordinator in 2005-2006 (going 23-3) after Norm Chow (made Phillip Rivers, Carson Palmer, Leinart's early years) left for the Titan's OC job. USC did not win a national championship while he was OC, perhaps because some of the play-calling duties were shared with Steve Sarkisian (current USC OC) and Carroll.

From Wikipedia...

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.

That pretty much makes him qualified. His recruiting ties are to California, not Clemson's market. We generally stick to GA, NC, SC, AL, FL. It would be nice to get as far west as Texas, but we arent going to attract talent from CA. He certainly could form ties here however.

The offense he would run is the USC offense, a pro-style balanced attack. Likely his father would recommend a coach to him as DC, which means we'd run Tampa 2.

He's young and walked into a bad situation in Oakland. He may not be ready for a job here or HC job anywhere, but my gut instinct is that Washington will go after him bigtime and cut Willingham loose. I do not believe he would take the Clemson job unless it was the only one offered, and I'd put money that if he built Clemson into a national power, he'd bolt to the NFL fairly quickly. This wouldnt bother me, as the program would be elevated enough to bring in a big name.

A different take... (Bear in mind this writer is a douche sometimes).