Lane Kiffin has returned to coach USC, his roots, after his unsuccessful NFL stint with the Oakland Raiders and one year in the college ranks as the head coach of Tennessee.


Kiffin, who was once the offensive coordinator with the Trojans replaces his former boss Pete Carroll who just took the head coaching job in the NFL with the Seattle Seahawks.


Kiffin leaves Tennessee a team that faces at least two more NCAA violations (ongoing inquiry) into infractions like the possible misuse of recruiting and impermissible visits.


With USC hiring Kiffin, the school has made a bold statement to the NCAA regarding a coach who in his first couple of weeks on the job was already under scrutiny.


“This was not an easy decision. This is something that happens very quick,” Kiffin said on Tennessee's campus. We’ve been here 14 months, and the support has been unbelievable here.”


ESPN.com first announced the hiring which left a couple of pundits puzzled, but not many surprised. USC on the other hand lost Carroll, but feel like they gained someone very competent to take the Trojans back to the top.


For a coach who failed in Oakland with a 5-15 record and finished his first season as Tennessee’s head coach with a 7-6 record, USC would be questioned for making such a rash decision to name Kiffin that quick.


With the move back to USC, Kiffin’s contract with Tennessee will require an $800,000 buyout for leaving only after one season.


“Those payments shall be made in monthly installments over a 36-month period,” the contract with Tennessee states.


Tennessee is disappointed that Kiffin left the program after only one season. Women’s basketball coach Pat Summit mentioned on Mike and Mike in the Morning on ESPN Radio that she is disappointed with Kiffin’s departure.


Tennessee’s athletic director Mike Hamilton echoed Summit’s sentiments and described Kiffin’s stay with the team in one word: Brief.


Kiffin had mentioned Hamilton that once the USC position was available he would consider taking the job and by Tuesday, Hamilton was informed by Kiffin that he was taking the head coaching offer from his former team.


“I feel like we gave him a chance and gave him a good job,” Hamilton said. “If I said I was anything less than disappointed, not personally disappointed ... I’m more disappointed for our kids and our fans.”


Kiffin’s new coaching staff at USC will include his father and defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin along with assistant head coach and recruiting coordinator Ed Orgeron who was formerly with USC for seven years then took the Mississippi head coaching job.