Kliff Kingsbury was fired by Texas Tech after a 5-7 campaign that dropped his career record to 35-40 with the Red Raiders, including a 19-35 mark against Big 12 opponents.
That career record would, typically, not make one a hotly desired commodity as a head coach. Kingsbury is, however, a brilliant offensive coach and unsurprisingly landed a high profile offensive coordinator gig with USC shortly after his dismissal from Lubbock. It seemed like the perfect situation for Kingsbury to rehabilitate his image for at least a year before either taking Clay Helton’s job in L.A. or eventually seeking out a new head coaching gig.
However, the NFL’s thirstiness for finding the next Sean McVay coupled with the massive success of Kingsbury’s former TTU quarterback Patrick Mahomes has, amazingly, made him a hot head coaching candidate at the next level. Despite a mediocre college record and clearly spending the vast majority of his time concerned with the offense rather than, you know, running the whole team and program, some NFL teams apparently want Kliff to run the show for them in hopes he can bring some of his offensive magic to their team.
The problem has been that USC has blocked Kingsbury from interviewing with NFL teams for head coaching jobs, understandably not wanting their new OC to bounce before he even gets to spring practice. Lately, something has changed, either in Kingsbury’s job status at USC or in USC’s approach to him taking interviews because reports indicate he is taking interviews now, with the Cardinals and Jets both reportedly interested.
I’m hearing Kliff Kingsbury is interviewing with NFL teams, which likely means he has resigned as USC offensive coordinator. USC was blocking him from interviewing foe NFL head coaching openings
— Jay Glazer (@JayGlazer) January 7, 2019
The Arizona Cardinals and Kliff Kingsbury were said to have a strong mutual interest in each other, per league sources, but they had been prevented from talking. Not now. Jets also are likely to want to talk to Kingsbury.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 7, 2019
USC has not confirmed anything regarding Kingsbury leaving the school, simply noting he’s still on the athletic department’s website, for whatever that’s worth.
Asked a #USC spokesman if Kliff Kingsbury is still a member of the Trojans’ coaching staff: “He’s still listed on our website’s ath dept staff directory.”
— Antonio Morales (@AntonioCMorales) January 7, 2019
There’s a possibility Kingsbury would work as an NFL head coach, provided that team spends a boatload of money on a great defensive staff that can operate on its own without much head coach oversight. However, it is fascinating that he’s in such demand given he never really made Texas Tech that much better over his time in Lubbock, as they never demonstrably improved and, if anything, took a step back over the final few years of his tenure there.
As they say, though, the NFL is a copycat league and Kingsbury has long been considered one of college football’s brightest offensive minds. With the league shifting towards what have long been considered college style offenses, it’s no surprise they’d look for the most well-known of those college names — even if his success as a head coach has been limited. Why they want him to be a head coach and not a well-paid offensive coordinator is beyond me, but don’t be surprised if Kingsbury is in the NFL and not roaming the sidelines in the Coliseum next season.
UPDATE: Kingsbury’s name is now apparently no longer on the USC site.
Kliff Kingsbury's name has been removed from USC's list of coaches on the school's website, FYI.
— Bob McManaman (@azbobbymac) January 7, 2019
