Lane Kiffin and USC: A Perfect Marriage

Lane Kiffin agreed in principle to the head coaching position at University of Southern California for the fall of 2010. Kiffin was named shortly after Pete Carroll stepped down earlier this week and announced his new title as head coach and executive vice president of the Seattle Seahawks.

Several sources report that Kiffin and USC athletic director Mike Garrett have been in direct communication after Carroll was reportedly meeting with the Seahawks.

Southern Cal has developed a reputation for playing with swagger and emotion—an attribute of the young coach Kiffin. They are also defensive minded and loaded with high-end recruits who fit Kiffin well. This could be a perfect marriage as Kiffin's ability to motivate and recruit could pay dividends for the future of the program.

He will enter this marriage with a solid foundation and an impressive recruiting class already committed. There are also reports that his father, defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin, will be making the move to the Trojans as well.

However, I do feel that given the problems facing the USC athletic program, a more mature, experienced, disciplinarian of a head coach—a Tony Dungy or Romeo Crennel—would have been their best option.

But in the end Kiffin and USC will mix very well and the impact will be immediate. Unlike other coaches who are going into programs to build them from the ground up, Kiffin will hit the ground running and fans should expect a run at the Pac-10 Championship next season.

Would I have chosen him? Not a chance, I have no respect for the guy, but looking at USC's reputation in college football and Kiffin's reputation—they seem like the perfect match.