Monte Kiffin Will Reportedly Resign from USC to Pursue NFL Opportunities

The disappointment for the USC Trojans football program simply will not stop, as defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin will resign to pursue opportunities in the NFL, according to the USC Athletics Twitter page:

"

USC assistant football coach Monte Kiffin has resigned effective after the bowl game to pursue opportunities in the NFL.

— USC Trojans (@USC_Athletics) November 30, 2012"

Kiffin, who has been an assistant under his son, Lane, since 2010, will stay on and coach the Trojans through their upcoming bowl game.

With the 2012 season being one of massive disappointment, that bowl game won't be the one that USC and its fans had hoped for. Expected to contend for a national championship, the Trojans went 7-5 and became just the sixth team to start a season ranked No. 1 by the Associated Press and finish unranked. 

Unfortunately, it was Kiffin's defense that was often at fault. USC gave up 35 or more points in three of its five losses, including a whopping 62 to the Oregon Ducks. 

Nevertheless, while the elder Kiffin's time at USC was mostly an up-and-down affair, he should not have trouble finding a gig in the NFL. 

In over a quarter century in the league, Kiffin became renowned as one of the best defensive minds in football—especially during his time with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The team's defensive coordinator from 1996-2008, Kiffin is the inventor of the "Tampa Cover 2" defense, a complicated scheme that helped lead the Buccaneers to a Super Bowl victory following the 2002 season. 

Kiffin left the Bucs to follow Lane to Tennessee and then to USC. However, with Lane's future with the Trojans very much in the air, it's likely that the 72-year-old Monte wanted to give the NFL one last try

Here's to hoping some team gives him that shot.

Follow @tylerconway22