Kiffin Leaves Tennessee to Replace Mentor at USC

by Leon Walker

Lane Kiffin is set to repay $800,000 to the University of Tennessee after announcing his return to coaching at University of South California, according to reports.

Kiffin moves to head up USC’s football program to fill the vacancy left by his mentor, Pete Carroll, who recently announced his move to the Seattle Seahawks.

Kiffin has been in charge of the Volunteers for only one season. As a result of his early departure, he will owe an $800,000 buyout to Tennessee, according to the Associated Press.

Referring to a meeting held last week after Carroll’s departure to the Seahawks, Mike Hamilton, director of athletics at Tennessee, today said that Kiffin was very “open and forthright” when admitting that he would be interested in the USC job if it was offered to him.

Kiffin worked on the coaching staff at USC for six seasons under Carroll, before leaving to take the Raiders Head Coaching position.  Just months in, he had issues with Al Davis.  He spent only one full season at UT before bolting to Southern California.