Haden Supportive Of Kiffin Despite New Allegation
(CBSSPORTS.com/Bryan Fischer) -- USC athletic director Pat Haden threw his full support behind embattled head coach Lane Kiffin in the wake of a recent report saying he would be named in an NCAA violations case at Tennessee.
AOL Fanhouse reported last Wednesday that Kiffin would be cited for a failure to monitor violation arising from his time as head coach of the Volunteers. Kiffin's brother-in-law David Reeves, who was an assistant on staff, will reportedly be cited for improper contact with recruits.
"I read the report and I know he can't comment on it," Haden said. "I can't really ask a lot about it because it happened at Tennessee. Right now it really is not a USC issue.
"What I know of Lane Kiffin is he's been more than compliant with everything we ask. He is doing the right thing and we'll see how this report turns out, how the investigation goes, what the results are, I just have no idea what's going to happen. All I know is our (case) took a long time and I don't know how long this will take."
The violations stemmed from a group of school hostesses who allegedly made improper contact with several recruits, with Reaves reportedly instructing the hostesses on how to contact the recruits. It was one of several alleged violations committed by Tennessee during Kiffin's short tenure at the school. Despite the run-ins with the NCAA at his previous school, Haden believes Kiffin is doing everything by the letter of the law at USC.
"I did not hire Lane but in my seven months, he has been very positive in terms of compliance," Haden said. "The reputation and reality of Lane Kiffin are two entirely different things. I understand what his reputation is but the reality that I've dealt with is not that reputation."
USC was placed on four years of probation by the NCAA for violations stemming from a lack of institutional control following an investigation centered on the school's football and men's basketball programs. The school is currently appealing several of the sanctions placed on the football team but Haden did not think the recent news would have any effect on the appeal.
"I sure hope not," he said. "Those are two separate cases and it should not, that's the Tennessee case. The way these play out, I would expect we'll hear from the Appeals Committee long before the Tennessee situation is taken care of.
Haden spoke to reporters following a six hour summit designed to discuss issues related to agent awareness and education. Representatives of the Pac-10, SEC, NCAA, NFL and NFL Players Association were in attendance.
