Lane Kiffin has been on his new job at Southern Cal for right around a month now -- to answer your question, no, this post isn’t about a rumor of Kiffin possibly leaving already -- and he’s still yet to name his offensive coordinator.
Given the fact that Kiffin will call his own plays, though, it’s not utterly imperative that he name a coordinator yesterday, but it’s still kind of an important position on a coaching staff that would optimally be filled sooner rather than later.
There have been a couple of names attached to the opening of late, and, with the exception of Boise State’s Bryan Harsin and an early flirtation with Norm Chow, they have current NFL connections. Earlier this month, Kiffin spoke with Tampa Bay Buccaneers coordinator Greg Olsen, who ultimately decided to remain in the NFL.
Now comes word that another NFL assistant might be of interest to Kiffin & Company.
According to Bruce Feldman of ESPN.com, Kiffin will consider New Orleans Saints wide receivers coach Curtis Johnson for the coordinator opening. Johnson has been with the Saints since 2006, but before that he’d been at the collegiate level every year since entering coaching in 1987.
Included in his collegiate stops was a lengthy stay (1996-2005) with the Miami Hurricanes.
Johnson has never been a coordinator at any level -- in fact, he’s been a WR coach at each and every one of his six coaching jobs -- but, again, he wouldn’t be required to be a “normal” coordinator given Kiffin’s presence on the staff.