10:10PM EST November 29. 2012 - Monte Kiffin has an itch to return to the NFL, and not even continuing to coach with his son can prevent him from scratching it.
Kiffin, who has been an assistant at USC for the past three seasons, announced Thursday that he will resign following the Trojans' bowl game so he can pursue opportunities in the NFL.
"I wanted to make this announcement now so that our players who are preparing for the bowl game and our recruits who will be visiting campus are aware," Kiffin said in a statement issued by the school. "I really enjoyed my time at USC and the opportunity I had to work with our players and coaches. The chance to work for my son, Lane, was unique and memorable, but we always treated each other professionally on a coach-to-coach basis.
"Although things didn't always go as well as we would have liked this year from a defensive and win-loss standpoint, I will leave USC with the utmost respect for the university, the Trojan family and, most importantly, the players I had the good fortune to coach. I see great things ahead for the USC football program."
So the question is: What's ahead for Kiffin?
At 72 years old and with 26 years of NFL coaching experience, Kiffin certainly brings something to the table. He's always been known for his success as a defensive coordinator and even won a Super Bowl with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after the 2002 season -- with the very available Jon Gruden we might add.
We'll watch closely to see what the future holds for Kiffin.
