By BETH RUCKER
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Lane Kiffin will become Tennessee's next coach, two days after Phillip Fulmer's 17-season tenure ended with a grand and victorious send-off.
Kiffin, the former Oakland Raiders coach, will be introduced at a news conference Monday.
"We have had unbelievable interest from great coaches," athletic director Mike Hamilton said Sunday. "When it was all said and done, we felt like Lane Kiffin was a perfect fit for Tennessee. He's energetic, charismatic, consumed with recruiting and has had a lifelong love affair with football."
Kiffin, 33, replaces Fulmer, who was forced out after 17 seasons as Vols coach. Fulmer won a national championship in 1998 and two Southeastern Conference titles but had two losing seasons in the last five years, including a 5-7 mark this year.
Kiffin was the youngest coach in the NFL's modern history when hired to lead the Raiders in January 2007 at age 31 after spending two seasons as Southern California's recruiting and offensive coordinator.
The former backup Fresno State quarterback had a rocky relationship with Oakland owner Al Davis, who fired him Sept. 30 for what he said was insubordination after going 5-15 with the Raiders.
Kiffin to be introduced as Vols coach on Monday....
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