REPORT: LANE KIFFIN IS TENNESSEE’S NEXT COACH

A newspaper in Tennessee is reporting that former Oakland Raiders head coach Lane Kiffin will be the next head coach of the Volunteers.The Knoxville News Sentinel reports that Tennessee has agreed in principle with Kiffin to become the Vols’ next head coach. The News Sentinel reports that “barring unforseen snags,” an official announcement is coming soon.Tennessee previously denied that Kiffin had been offered the job.We’ve separately heard that there’s increasing talk in league circles that Kiffin to Tennessee is a done deal, and that Kiffin would like to bring his father, Buccaneers defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin, on board as one of his assistants.Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer will coach his last game Saturday against Kentucky at Neyland Stadium.Kiffin was hired as head coach of the Raiders in 2007 and fired four games into this season. He left Oakland with a 5-15 record. He has previously worked as an assistant coach at the college level, working for Pat Hill at Fresno State in 1997 and 1998, and for Pete Carroll at USC from 2001 to 2006.