Smartest College Football Coach Firings of the Past 10 Years

Sep 28, 2013; Tempe, AZ, USA; USC Trojans head coach Lane Kiffin reacts during the first half against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Sun Devil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports

Lane Kiffin – USC Trojans, 2013

Record With School: 28-15
Replaced by: Ed Orgeron (interim)

I quote Dr. Peter Venkman (H/T Bill Murray), “Call it fate, call it luck, call it karma, I believe everything happens for a reason. I believe that we were destined to get thrown outta this dump.”

And thrown out Lane Kiffin was. The guy who turned his back on singing Rocky Top after Tennessee Volunteer victories over Alabama (where he is now offensive coordinator…talk about karma), came to USC in 2010 handed a file cabinet full of NCAA violations and an empty scholarship coffer.

But Kiffin made the most of what he had, and when the Trojans finished 10-2, first in the Pac-12 South division, and a 50-0 victory over rival UCLA, the arrogant visor-wearing coach seemed to have things well in hand.

But the cloud of lost scholarships and post-season play weren’t all Kiffin had to overcome. It was obvious after 2011 that he was losing the locker room and the confidence of the Trojan Nation. He was fired just five games into the 2013 season after going 3-2, and losing the first two conference games of the year.

Next: Houston Nutt