Vols Football Coach Lane Kiffin
Since he took over the University of Tennessee’s storied football program last December, Lane Kiffin, the Boy Wonder, has gone about his job full bore, working as though he’s got something to prove.
When CityScope caught up with Kiffin in early April, he was typically pressed for time, sandwiching our interview and one other between spring practice and a high school coaches clinic he and his staff were conducting on campus. Such is life for Kiffin, who just may have something to prove—at 33, he’s the youngest head coach in major college football. If that weren’t a heavy enough mantle to bear, he’s also got to show that his abbreviated stint as head coach of the NFL’s Oakland Raiders, which ended after one-plus seasons, did not end because of anything he did to tarnish his wiz-kid image, but because of philosophical differences with eccentric owner Al Davis.
“I learned a lot in the NFL,” Kiffin says. “First of all, you’re coaching some players who are older than you are. (He was 31 and the youngest head coach in league history when Davis hired him). That’s an experience in itself. But I also learned about how hard you have to work when you’re the one in charge, and what it takes to be successful as a head coach. You don’t learn those things without actually being in that position.”
The configuration of Kiffin’s first staff would suggest he’s leaving nothing to chance as he takes over for Phillip Fulmer, who led the Tennessee Vols to great heights, winning the national championship in 1998. Fulmer became a lightning rod for criticism as his team’s losses mounted, and eventually led to his demise. Kiffin was hired to infuse the program with new energy.
He’ll have help. Kiffin has surrounded himself with experienced coaches and like-minded individuals, while assembling a superstar staff that includes his father, legendary defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin, and Ed Orgeron, the former USC assistant and Ole Miss head coach. Both go about their business as though tethered to a permanent caffeine IV; they’re wired, emotional, and passionate about football.
Orgeron is known as one of the nation’s best recruiters, and Kiffin went after other coaches whose reputations for procuring talent were well-known, including former Auburn assistant Eddie Gran and former Alabama assistant Lance Thompson. Kiffin’s assistants paid quick dividends as, despite a late start, they quickly put together a recruiting class ranked among the top 10 in the country.
Like their new boss, Kiffin’s assistants are dedicated to the task. “I try to give them a day off,” Kiffin says. “And then you come to the office and they’re all in here working anyway. We hit a home run with these guys. We tried to find people who can coach and recruit.”
Kiffin was perhaps destined for the role he’s assumed. As Monte Kiffin’s son, he’s been in locker rooms and film sessions all his life. “(Monte Kiffin) was my first influence,” Kiffin says. “I was around the game all the time, and could see the passion he had for football. That rubbed off on me.”
Later in life, after beginning his college coaching career at Fresno State, Kiffin was hired by a former assistant of his father’s, USC Coach Pete Carroll. He learned more about his craft under Carroll, who has built a perennial national championship contender. Kiffin quickly rose through the ranks, eventually becoming the Trojans’ offensive coordinator and top recruiter.
“It was another great experience to work for Pete Carroll,” Kiffin says. “To see how he handles his players, coaches his coaches, and runs his program - I learned so much that I’ll use here.”
Kiffin’s first few months on Rocky Top were peppered with the occasional bit of controversy. He’s not afraid to call out SEC opponents—2008 national champion Florida has been a favorite target—and has provided bulletin board fodder for half the league.
Arrogance? Tennessee Athletic Director Mike Hamilton, who made what some considered a risky move in hiring such a young head coach, prefers to call it confidence. Yet, despite the fact he’s as self-assured as anyone walking the college sidelines today, Kiffin stops short at making predictions for the Vols in his first season.
“We just want to play good football,” he says. “Right now, we don’t have any idea about wins and losses. Our goal is to find a way to get better every day. And if we can do that, and continue to recruit the best players we can, the wins will take care of themselves.”
Lookouts Manager John Valentin
Last year in September, the Chattanooga Lookouts, announced that its affiliation during the 2009 Southern League Double-A season would be with the Los Angeles Dodgers. After 21 years as a farm team with the Cincinnati Reds, the announcement
was followed by news that former major league infielder John Valentin would become the new Lookouts manager.
“This is the first year for the Dodgers to come to Chattanooga, and I am very excited about having the club’s AA-affiliate here,” remarks Valentin. “Los Angeles is a fine organization that wants to produce exciting baseball players, and AA is the affiliate that usually carries the most prospects. I am excited about having some major league prospects for the Dodgers in Chattanooga.”
Valentin spent 15 years as a player, 11 of which were in the majors. During nine seasons, he played shortstop, second base, and third base for the Boston Red Sox before ending his playing days with the New York Mets. Valentin finished with a .279 batting average, 124 home runs, 558 RBI (runs batted in), and more than 1,000 hits. In 1995, he received the American Silver Slugger Award, and two years later he led the American League in doubles with 47. He remains the only player in major league history to complete an unassisted triple play and hit for the cycle (single, double, triple, and home run in one game).
Prior to taking the helm with the Lookouts, Valentin managed the Dodgers’ Class A Inland Empire 66ers, based in San Bernardino, California, and led them to the 2008 California League playoffs.
“As baseball fans know, the Los Angeles Dodgers are a big market club,” Valentin remarks. “Their fans come out and watch the Dodgers play, and they draw over 3 million fans a year. I hope that with the tradition the Dodgers bring, the Lookouts will play an exciting brand of baseball and it will be something Chattanooga will be proud of. This is my first year managing a AA baseball club, and we do have some team speed – guys that can steal some bases and produce runs from the speed aspect of the game.”
Valentin and his wife, Marie, are the parents of son Justin, 14, and daughter Kendall, 12. Both children are gymnasts, staying busy with competition, training, and school. The rest of the family plans to join John in Chattanooga this summer.
Born in Mineola, New York, the new Lookouts manager grew up a New York Yankees fan. His experience as a player has prepared him well for the leadership role he has taken on. In the midst of an exciting baseball career, Valentin says players don’t often stop to consider what they are going to do after their playing careers are over.
“My last year in the majors was as a role player with the Mets, watching the game being played from the bench, and starting to manage the game, as well as watching Bobby Valentine, who was managing the Mets at the time,” he says. “Bobby has influenced me to always watch the game from the bench, manage, and be involved; in a sense, it helped me to realize that I want to teach young kids how to get to the big leagues, as well. I have heard only great things about Chattanooga and am looking forward to great things this season.”
Joining Valentin on the Lookouts staff for the 2009 season are Hitting Coach Luis Salazar, Pitching Coach Glenn Dishman, and Athletic Trainer Yosuke Nakajima.
Mocs Football Coach Russ Huesman
When Russ Huesman was named head football coach at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga last December, he did, in a real sense, come home again.
A native of Cincinnati, Ohio, Huesman played defensive back for the Mocs from 1978 to 1981 and was an assistant coach at UTC in 1982. Most recently, he served five seasons as the defensive coordinator for the University of Richmond, which defeated Montana for the 2008 NCAA Football Championship Subdivision national title - right here in Chattanooga. Huesman’s 25 years of coaching experience also includes serving as an assistant at the University of South Carolina, the College of William & Mary, and the University of Memphis.
On the eve of spring practice in March, Huesman was optimistic about the future of the Mocs football program which has endured challenges similar to what Richmond once experienced. “When we got to the Richmond program, it was kind of down,” he remembers. “They had come off three losing seasons, and some people wanted to drop scholarship football. Some were saying, ‘You can’t win at Richmond.’ It was similar to some of what has been said here, and that is pretty eerie. For Richmond to win a national championship, it took a lot of hard work, good recruiting by the staff, and the kids believing in the program. It was something pretty special.”
Huesman’s optimism is contagious, and he is resolute in his confidence that the Chattanooga football program can reach national prominence. “Recruiting wise, I think Chattanooga is in a better position than Richmond. Within a 200-mile radius, there are a lot of good football players. We can attract quality players, and the issue is to attract the right players and hold onto them. We signed 15 guys this year; four years from now, we have to have all of those guys as fourth- and fifth-year seniors to be really good. There is no question that we have got to get excellent football players, but they also have to do excellent schoolwork and they have to want to be here.”
Throughout his coaching career, Huesman has gleaned best practices from others, particularly other head coaches. Much of what he has learned is contained in a journal, which he keeps as a handy reference. Tips from coaches, such as Jimmy Laycock at William & Mary and Tommy West at Memphis, have helped sharpen his strategic focus.
“I can turn the pages, and it says that these are the 15 priorities that need to be handled during the month of March,” Russ explains. “Sometimes I have found myself getting way too far ahead. I’ve referred to the journal three or four times since I have been here.”
As spring practice moved into high gear, Huesman began constructing a solid foundation for the future of UTC football. Connecting with the community and reaching out to alumni have been cornerstones of his efforts; bringing quality assistant coaches to the program has also been a priority.
“From the day I showed up here, I said that we needed to get all the alumni, and particularly former football players, involved,” he asserts. “We have made sure that every phone call I get from a former player is returned immediately, either by me or someone involved with the program. We also have to get the student body involved and get them to the games; when we put a good product on the field, Chattanoogans will get more involved. As for our coaches, for the most part, every one of them is someone I have known or previously coached with. They are good family people and treat these kids the way they are supposed to be treated.”
Huesman’s own family, including his wife, Amy, and children, Jacob, 15, Natalie, 12, Emily, 9, and Levi, 5, remains in Richmond temporarily and will probably relocate to Chattanooga sometime this summer.
“I want us to be a better fundamental football team next season,” the coach says of the 2009 Mocs. “We want people to look out on the field and say, ‘That is a well-coached team.’ When that happens, it will translate into wins. We have good kids in this program – kids that want to win.”
Shaping the futures of young athletes, Kiffin, Valentin, and Huesman have no illusions regarding the tasks which lie before them. However, such are the opportunities in which coaches take great delight. Not only do they look forward to the challenges of the coming seasons, they welcome them. Sports fans from around the area will be pulling for them and watching with great and hopeful expectations.