Retirement after deal far from Kiffin's plan

The Bucs defensive coordinator, whose new contract runs for two years, isn't budging.

By STEPHEN F. HOLDER
Published January 22, 2008

MOBILE, Ala. - Monte Kiffin might be the most widely admired and most accomplished defensive coordinator in the NFL. But there's a particular question that inevitably comes up when talk turns to the future of the longtime Bucs assistant: How long can he keep it up?

The topic is fair game, considering he'll turn 68 in a month. But when the subject was put before the fiery coach, who signed a contract extension with the club Friday, he literally laughed out loud in the face of Father Time.

"Some people are 68 going on 69," he said in Mobile, where the Bucs staff is scouting prospects in the Senior Bowl.

"I'm 68 going on 48."

Besides, what else is he going to do with his time?

"I love coaching," Kiffin said. "I don't have a lot of hobbies, even though I have my family, of course. I don't want to play golf. I don't bowl. I don't hunt. I don't fish. There's nothing wrong with those things. It's just that I love coaching, and there's nothing else I'd rather do."

Kiffin, who said he signed a two-year extension that is thought to be worth about $2-million a year, will be just shy of 70 by the time the new contract is slated to run out, presumably in January 2010. But he made it clear he has no plans to retire upon its expiration. He remains in good health and still paces the sideline furiously, always displaying a youthful passion for the game.

"They'll have to run me out," he said. "And if they do, I'll be coaching somewhere else."

Kiffin will begin his 13th season in Tampa Bay this fall, but for at least a brief moment during his contract negotiations with the Bucs, he had wandering eyes. Kiffin praised the Glazer family for sticking with him since 1996 and credited coach Jon Gruden for responding under immense pressure to orchestrate a dramatic turnaround in 2007. Still, he paused when approached by another suitor. Kiffin would not identify the team, but the opportunity left the Tampa Bay fixture intrigued.

"I think there was some genuine interest," said Kiffin, who was reported to be drawing interest from the Redskins and Falcons, and possibly others. "People definitely inquired. But I wasn't going to go just anywhere. There was one particular team at the end that was very interested."

In the end, what brought Kiffin back was the satisfaction of being part of a resurrected defense plus what he feels is a bright future built upon the unit's many young contributors.

But, like a typical coach, Kiffin isn't merely celebrating gains. He's already scrutinizing shortcomings.

"Every year to me is a challenge," said Kiffin, whose unit finished second in the NFL in total defense. "We need to do better in the red zone. I want to keep looking at our blitz package, our pressure, (and) on third down, we need to get off. I'm not going to sit here and say, 'Gosh, we're really good.'"

Maybe he'll feel comfortable uttering those words before long.

"I like our team," he said. "We have a young defense that's going to be a lot of fun to coach. I'm excited."

Where's Hackett?: There was no sign of quarterbacks coach Paul Hackett in Mobile, fueling speculation he might not return. Hackett remains unsigned, though indications are the club has tendered a contract offer.

Stephen F. Holder can be reached at sholder@sptimes.com.

[Last modified January 22, 2008, 01:04:26]