Kiffin confirms Lance Thompson hire

TUSCALOOSA | The University of Tennessee made the hiring of former Alabama football assistant coach official Saturday with an announcement that new head coach Lane Kiffin had completed his coaching staff.

Thompson will coach linebackers at Tennessee.

Kiffin released a statement on his new staff that seemed to take a shot at Alabama, among other schools.

“To be able to take South Carolina’s recruiting coordinator, Mississippi State’s recruiting coordinator, Alabama’s best recruiter and Auburn’s best recruiter over the past 10 years was a great accomplishment for us,” Kiffin said. “Once again, I would like to thank Mike Hamilton, the athletic department and our donors for making this possible.”

In addition to Thompson, Kiffin hired former Auburn assistant Eddie Gran, former South Carolina assistant David Reaves and former Ole Miss and Southern Miss assistant Frank Wilson, who worked briefly as part of new Mississippi State head coach Dan Mullen’s staff.

Kiffin also mentioned Thompson and former Ole Miss coach Ed Orgeron, now Tennessee’s defensive coordinator, as key hires.

“With the staff now complete, not only do we have the best recruiters in the SEC, but some of the best in the country,” Kiffin said in the statement. “Two of the coaches (Orgeron in 2004 and Thompson last year) have been recognized as the Rivals.com National Recruiter of the Year.

“It was imperative to not only find great recruiters, but great recruiters that knew the conference.”

Alabama head coach Nick Saban has not commented on Thompson’s departure. Thompson last week became the second defensive assistant to leave the Alabama coaching staff since the Sugar Bowl, following Kevin Steele’s departure to become defensive coordinator at Clemson.

Saban has not announced any replacements for either position.