Is Lane Kiffin a potential candidate for the Illinois coaching job?
By Nick Cole
Published:
Just when we thought the college football coaching carousel had stopped, new Illinois athletics director Josh Whitman cranked things back up for one more ride.
On Saturday, which was his first day on the job, he announced the dismissal of football coach Bill Cubit.
Statement from @IlliniAD on dismissal of Bill Cubit at #Illini football coach. pic.twitter.com/DlIMpq8Umi
— Illinois Football (@IlliniFootball) March 5, 2016
That not only opens up a FBS head coaching job, but it opens a Power 5 job in some fairly fertile recruiting ground.
The timing of the dismissal won’t help Whitman’s search, as the Illini are going to have to postpone spring practice as a result of this decision. But the timing also suggests that Whitman may already have a replacement in mind.
Still yet, the minute that a Power 5 head coaching job opens, a list of the usual potential candidates emerges.
Alabama OC Lane Kiffin is one of the names that is getting thrown around in the early discussion.
Sporting News national college football writer Bill Bender tabbed Kiffin as one of the “top five” candidates for the job on Saturday, along with Western Kentucky’s Jeff Brohm, Western Michigan’s P.J. Fleck, Northern Illinois’ Rod Carey and Notre Dame’s Mike Sanford.
FOX Sports personality Clay Travis and USA Today’s George Schroeder were also quick to throw Kiffin’s name into the discussion:
Wouldn't Lane Kiffin be a great hire for Illinois?
— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) March 5, 2016
(Whitman picks up phone, calls Lane Kiffin.)
— George Schroeder (@GeorgeSchroeder) March 5, 2016
But is this actually a fit for the former Oakland Raiders, Tennessee Vols and USC Trojans head coach?
Kiffin joining the Big Ten would create a media dream team with Ohio State’s Urban Meyer, Michigan’s Jim Harbaugh and Penn State’s James Franklin for some of the most quotable coaches in the country.
And there’s no doubt that Kiffin has the recruiting chops to be successful in the Chicago area while still utilizing his contacts in the south and out west.
But let’s not forget that Kiffin is coming off a national championship with the Crimson Tide and is two years into a successful rehabbing of his image under the direction of Nick Saban.
If Kiffin stays at Alabama for 2016 and has yet another successful season, he could be picking from head coaching opportunities next offseason that are much better than the one Illinois has to offer now.
Nick Cole is a former print journalist with several years of experience covering the SEC. Born and raised in SEC country, he has taken in the game-day experience at all 14 stadiums.
