The Tennessee Journalist sports staff takes a closer look at Tennessee's new football coaching staff.

This past month has been an exciting one for Volunteer fans, who witnessed the construction of a new football staff under new head coach Lane Kiffin.

Certainly one of the biggest additions to the Tennessee sidelines was Ed Orgeron, who was named defensive line coach, recruiting coordinator and associate head coach on December 31, 2008.

Orgeron is the third highest paid coach of the new staff, earning $650,000 for the upcoming season.

Before returning to the SEC, Orgeron served as defensive line coach for the New Orleans Saints for the 2008 season. Orgeron previously served as head coach for the Ole Miss Rebels from 2005-2007, where he went 10-25, with a 3-21 record in the SEC.

Before his stint at Ole Miss, Orgeron coached at Southern California from 1998-2004, serving various positions including defensive line coach, associate head coach and recruiting coordinator. Orgeron added to a staff that included then offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin and head coach Pete Carroll. The Trojans were voted national champions by the AP in 2003 and were crowned 2004 BCS National champions.

Orgeron was named the National Recruiter of the year in 2004 for his work with USC.

Orgeron also held a position as defensive line coach at the University of Miami from 1988-1992, where he coached eight All-Americans including Warren Sapp, Russell Maryland and Cortez Kennedy. The Hurricanes won the 1989 and 1991 National championships.

'Coach O' has been involved in coaching since 1985, serving various positions at McNeese St., Nicholls St., Northwestern St., Arkansas and Syracuse.

Orgeron played defensive line at South Lafourche High School in Galliano, La., where his team captured the Class 4A State Championship in 1977. Orgeron originally committed to LSU, before transferring to Nicholls State University where he played from 1981-1984.

Lane Kiffin called Orgeron the best recruiter and defensive line coach in both college and the NFL.

"As you look at the SEC right now, one of the most talented teams in the SEC is Ole Miss," Kiffin said. "Ed Orgeron, as everyone here knows, put that team together, and you see what's happening with that team right now."