We know two things about the job market for new coaches this offseason. One, it is saturated with options for young coaches or coordinators on the rise. The options right now include Southern California, Illinois, South Carolina, Central Florida, Virginia Tech, Missouri, and Miami, among many others not listed or expected to open (i.e. in the MAC) once head coaches at smaller programs get a cushier gig.
Two, Lane Kiffin—Mr. Peter Principle himself—will likely be one of those young coaches or coordinators on the move. Rumors about chicanery involving booster wives notwithstanding for the moment, Kiffin is in the last year of his offensive coordinator contract at Alabama. There are no signs right now that Nick Saban wants to retain him despite the success of the offense.
In fact, Lane Kiffin could be coming to a Big Ten program near you, according to a report from 247sports.com.
Maryland has interviewed Alabama assistant Lane Kiffin for its head coach job, multiple sources told IMS.
[...]
Per a reliable source in Tuscaloosa, "the situation has run its course" and Kiffin seems unlikely to return next year.
Maryland hiring Lane Kiffin wouldn't necessarily be a "bad" hire. It's questionably a "good" hire and it's definitely not a great one. Time will tell if Maryland pulls the trigger on offering him a contract or if Kiffin uses that as leverage over another offer outside the Big Ten.
I was kind of hoping Illinois would fall on that Kiffin grenade, though...
UPDATE: Pete Thamel has a source saying Kiffin has not interviewed for the Maryland job and Maryland is not expected to interview him.
Source: Maryland hasn't talked to Lane Kiffin and isn't expected to.
— Pete Thamel (@SIPeteThamel) November 14, 2015
