Lane Kiffin was officially introduced as the University of Tennessee's head football coach Monday at Neyland Stadium's Wolf-Kaplan Center. The 33-year-old Kiffin replaces Phillip Fulmer, the second winningest coach in UT history.

Kiffin was the head coach of the NFL's Oakland Raiders before being fired on Sept. 30. He amassed a record of 5-15 during just over a year in Oakland.

He was very enthusiastic about next season and the customs of Tennessee.

"I'm really looking forward to embracing some of the great traditions at the University of Tennessee," Kiffin said. "The Vol Walk, running through the T, singing Rocky Top all night long next year after we beat Florida. It's going to be a blast, so get ready."

Kiffin was met with applause from his new players and others as he talked about doing whatever it takes to win. That included playing incoming freshmen if they were better suited for the job than current players.

He also talked about hitting the recruiting trail hard, trying to lock up commitments from players who have wavered since Fulmer's resignation. He said he wanted to "put a fence around Tennessee," keeping the top players in the state from leaving for rival schools.

"I'm rolling my sleeves up and going to work," he said. "I can promise you that no one is going to outwork me, and no one is going to outwork my staff. It starts today."

Kiffin emphasized Fulmer's act will be tough to follow. Fulmer was 152-52 in his 17 years as head coach, including two consecutive SEC Championships and the inaugural BCS Championship in the 1998 season.

He said he will wait for the right time to speak with Fulmer and get his advice.

Regarding Fulmer's staff, Kiffin said four coaches remain, although their job status is not permanent. He went on to say David Reaves, his brother-in-law, will join his staff. Reaves was the quarterbacks coach and recruiting coordinator at South Carolina.

Kiffin said he told athletics director Mike Hamilton to make sure he felt Kiffin was the right person for the job during the interview process.

"As I looked at the opportunities available, there was nothing close to this," Kiffin added. "So I didn't have a direct plan that I was going to [coach in] college no matter what. I knew that was going to happen first because of how the seasons were.

"I know my agents won't like me saying this, but I am not going back to the NFL. Not because of what I think of the NFL, but because of what I think of Tennessee."

Prior to his stint in Oakland, Kiffin served on Southern California's coaching staff as the recruiting coordinator and offensive coordinator in 2005 and 2006. USC had the top-ranked recruiting classes both years and the nation's No. 1 ranked offense in '05.

He began coaching quarterbacks and wide receivers at his alma mater, Fresno State in 1997. The Bloomington, Minn., native is married to Layla Reaves Kiffin, and they have two daughters with a son expected in January. Kiffin's father, Monte, is the defensive coordinator of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and is widely respected.