Houston headed down the right Lane with Kiffin
Early Thursday morning, the Houston Cougars identified Lane Kiffin as their next head coaching target. According to Bruce Feldman, the Cougars are attempting to expedite the process. Therefore, confirmation of the new hire is imminent. In fact, Kiffin may officially become the head coach of the Cougars in a few hours.
Re: Lane Kiffin: #Houston is pushing to made decision by tonight: So its new HC can have a recruiting weekend before NCAA Dead Period starts
— Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) December 8, 2016
The president is set to approve the decision at a Thursday meeting.
BREAKING: Houston has decided on Lane Kiffin, president to OK the hire at a Thursday meeting, @USATODAY has learned https://t.co/DhTeueFIU5
— Dan Wolken (@DanWolken) December 8, 2016
Currently, Kiffin has five years of head coaching experience on the college level. Overall, Kiffin has a 35-21 record. However, every head coaching spot ended abruptly. He spent one season leading the Tennessee Volunteers. In 2009, the Volunteers finished with a (7-6) record. However, Kiffin spurned Rocky Top for the glamour of the USC Trojans.
From 2010-13, Kiffin led the Trojan program to a 28-15 record. Surprisingly, the Trojans wouldn't let Kiffin on the team bus back to campus. After a 62-41 loss to the Arizona State Sun Devils, Pat Haden fired the fourth-year coach at the airport. He was ridiculed, and not many people thought the former rising superstar would ever lead a program again.
“At the end of the day, it became a gut feeling that we weren’t making the progress that I thought we should be making,” Haden said. “It’s never the perfect time, but I thought this was the right time. Our history has been great, and we need to be great again.”
Clearly, it was the lowest point of his career. However, Kiffin's coaching career was resurrected by the Alabama Crimson Tide in 2014. Kiffin became the offensive coordinator under Nick Saban's tutelage. Three season's later, the Alabama offense has been as dynamic as ever. The Crimson Tide are (39-3) during his tenure with the team. They've also earned a spot in the College Football Playoff three straight years, despite having a new quarterback each season.
The Crimson Tide averaged 40.5 points in 2016 with a freshman quarterback. Jalen Hurts threw for 2,563 yards, 21 touchdowns and nine interceptions. Hurts also ran for 841 yards and 12 touchdowns during his freshman campaign. The quarterback run is a wrinkle the Houston offense has become accustomed to.
Greg Ward Jr. ran for 30 touchdowns over the last two seasons for the Cougars. Upon his graduation, D'Eriq King could be the next in line to takeover as the signal caller. King is so dynamic, he spent his freshman season as a receiver/ punt returner for the Cougars. It will be interesting if Kiffin decides to roll with the undersized QB for three seasons.
