Orgeron joins Kiffin's staff at Tennessee

Jan 2, 2009 - 8:11 PM KNOXVILLE, Tennessee (Ticker) -- Lane Kiffin continues to round out his coaching staff at Tennessee.

On Friday, Kiffin announced that Ed Orgeron is joining the Volunteers as an assistant head coach, recruiting coordinator and defensive line coach.

"It's a privilege to be able to represent the University of Tennessee and Lane Kiffin," Orgeron said. "When Lane was mentioned as a possibility for being the head coach at UT, there was no doubt in my mind that I wanted to join him."

Orgeron spent last season as defensive line coach for the New Orleans Saints following more than 20 years in the college ranks.

Included in that tenure was a three-year term as head coach at Mississippi, where he guided the Rebels to only a 10-25 record. He took the Ole Miss job after successful assistant coaching stops at Miami, Syracuse and Southern California.

Kiffin and Orgeron were assistant coaches together under USC head coach Pete Carroll from 2001-04.

"It was extremely, extremely important to get Ed Orgeron for two main reasons," Kiffin said. "Number one, he's the best defensive line coach in the country, NFL or college.

"Number two: he's best recruiter anywhere, anywhere in the country, any conference. I don't know what more evidence you need than these two things. If you look at the SEC right now, one of the most talented teams in the SEC is Ole Miss. Ed Orgeron, as everyone knows here, put that team together and you see what's happening with that team right now."

Regarded as a premier defensive line coach and recruiter, Orgeron played a key role in USC's national championships in 2003 and 2004.

Orgeron, who joined the Trojans' staff in January 1998, took on the added responsibility of recruiting coordinator in 2001 and named assistant head coach in 2003.

In 2003, Orgeron guided USC's highly regarded defensive line as the Trojans led the nation in rushing defense.

During his seven years at USC, the Trojans played in five bowls, including three straight BCS appearances from 2003-2005.