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Report: Houston settles on Lane Kiffin as new head coach

By Brad Berreman

Dec 3, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin looks on during the fourth quarter of the SEC Championship college football game against the Florida Gators at Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 3, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin looks on during the fourth quarter of the SEC Championship college football game against the Florida Gators at Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports /
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After losing Tom Herman to Texas, Houston is reportedly ready to hire Lane Kiffin as its new football coach.

A 22-4 record over the last two seasons raised the profile of the Houston football program, and head coach Tom Herman moved on the same job at Texas. Among the available jobs in college football, Houston stood out and some big-name candidates emerged.

According to Dan Wolken of USA TODAY, Houston is closing in on a decision to make Alabama offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin its new head coach. School president Renu Khator has to give the final ok on the move at a meeting to come on Thursday, but barring something unforeseen something official should come quickly.

ESPN’s Brett McMurphy has added the meeting of school officials is slated for Thursday night.

An official job offer has not yet been made, but Wolken added Kiffin has operated as if he will become Houston’s new coach as of Wednesday night.

Former LSU head coach Les Miles had been a candidate for the Houston job, as was Oklahoma offensive coordinator Lincoln Riley before he removed himself from consideration on Wednesday. Internal candidates had also received consideration, most prominently defensive coordinator Todd Orlando and offensive coordinator Major Applewhite, but Houston has apparently decided to go with Kiffin.

Kiffin has been the offensive coordinator at Alabama for the last three seasons. He has re-established himself as an offensive mind by modernizing the Crimson Tide offense while working with multiple styles of quarterback.

Kiffin went 28-15 in three-plus seasons as head coach at USC (2010-2013) and counting his one season at Tennessee (2009) he is 35-21 as a college head coach. Prior to that, he went 5-15 as head coach of the Oakland Raiders (2007-2008).

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Kiffin has left a trail of odd endings at all three of his head coaching stops, and though it feels like he has been around forever he is still just 41 years old. There should be a healthy amount of skepticism attached here until proven otherwise, but Kiffin has a good chance to keep up what Herman started to build at Houston.

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