KNOXVILLE (WVLT) – Lane Kiffin hit the recruiting trail Monday night, just a little more than a day after being named Philip Fulmer’s replacement at the University of Tennessee.

On Monday evening, Kiffin was getting ready to board a plane to Memphis when he stopped to talk to Volunteer TV News. The new head coach said he was very gracious to be hired, and was very eager to get started with recruiting.

"It's unbelievable to see the fan support and all the help around the university,” Kiffin said. “It’s just a great feeling for all of us."

Before joining the Vols, Kiffin, 33, had served at the youngest coach in NFL history when he served at the helm of the Oakland Raiders. Before joining the Raiders, he held the title of recruiting coordinator and offensive coordinator at the University of Southern California.

In spite of everywhere he has been, Kiffin said Rocky Top was the place he wanted to be.

“This is such a great place with such a great tradition,” he said. “It's a place that can win immediately and we already have a great roster. We need to add to that as soon as you let me out of here."

After about 36 hours in Big Orange country, Coach Kiffin was ready to leave for the recruiting trail. Just hours after his official introduction to the public, Kiffin was letting his passion for landing top high school players show.

While he served as USC's recruiting coordinator, the Trojans boasted the best recruiting class nationwide. His efforts even helped the Trojans win back-to-back national college championships. Even on his first real day on the job, Kiffin believes that he can win commitments from players also being recruited by BCS #1 Alabama and BCS #4 Florida.

“We’ve got a lot to offer and sell,” he said. “We've got to start that today."

Kiffin also would not set a timeline turning around UT’s football program after it went 5-7 this year.

"We're just taking it one day at a time, that's recruiting right now,” they said. “Last night I got together with the players and team to start moving them in the right direction, toward where we need to go."

Kiffin was fired from the Raiders after losing 15 of his first 20 games, which gave him a learning experience he says he'll use on Rocky Top.

"We've got to start competing in every aspect, so that we can in order to make this a championship college team,” he said.