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As ESPN.com insider John Clayton first reported, after failing to land Southern California assistant head coach Steve Sarkisian, the Oakland Raiders reached agreement in principle on a five-year deal Monday with Trojans offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin.

The Raiders confirmed the hiring in a press release issued last night. Kiffin will be formally introduced during a press conference later today. He becomes the 16th coach in franchise history.

In case you missed it, Kiffin was offered the Raiders' offensive coordinator job under Sarkisian late last week. But Sarkisian turned down Oakland's offer and the Raiders were left scrambling.

As a result, Kiffin, son of Bucs defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin, flew to Oakland Sunday night and spent all day Monday talking to owner Al Davis. As the evening approached, negotiations for a contract started and concluded quickly.

Now, the 31-year old Kiffin will succeed Art Shell 18 days after Davis fired the former Raider great in the wake of a 2-14 campaign. Kiffin is slightly more than half Shell's age (60) and younger than defensive tackle Warren Sapp, 34.

In fact, at 31 years and 8 months, Kiffin is the youngest head coach in the NFL since Harland Svare took over the Los Angeles Rams in 1962 at 31 years, 11 months.

Not that Davis cares.

As Contra Costa Times beat man Steve Corkran noted, Davis succeeded as a head coach in the NFL in his early 30s. So did coaches hired by Davis named John Madden, Mike Shanahan and Jon Gruden.

Madden, a Pro Football Hall of Famer, was 32 when he was elevated to the head post by Davis in 1969.

According to Associated Press sports writer Greg Beacham, Davis seemed determined to hire another young offensive-minded coach in the mold of Gruden, his last successful hire. Davis has fired three coaches in the last four years: Bill Callahan, Norv Turner and Shell, whose return to the Raiders lasted just one year.

Kiffin has been a six-year member of Pete Carroll's staff. Carroll hired him to coach tight ends in 2001. Kiffin switched to coaching wide receivers in 2002. In 2004, Kiffin took over passing game coordinator duties. Kiffin was then promoted to offensive coordinator in 2005.

Kiffin also had recruiting coordinator responsibilities.

Davis has long had an affinity for young, offensive-minded head coaches and he particularly likes offensive play-callers. Kiffin has obviously done that at the highest level of college football.

As the Raiders' official web site noted, Kiffin's play-calling, structure and offensive design helped the Trojan produce two Heisman Trophy winners -- Reggie Bush in 2005 and Matt Leinart in 2004.

Under Kiffin's offensive leadership in 2006, the Trojans finished first in the Pac-10 in passing efficiency, averaging 264 yards per game, produced two 1,000-yard receivers -- Dwayne Jarrett (1,105 yards) and Steve Smith (1,083 yards) and a 3,000-yard passer in John David Booty (3,347 yards).

In 2005, Kiffin was named one of the nation's Top 25 recruiters and served as offensive coordinator of an offensive that ranked in the top six nationally in every offensive category, including tops in total offense (579.8 yards per game) and second in scoring offense (49.1), and set Pac-10 records for total offense yardage, first downs, points scored, touchdowns and PATs.

The Trojans, who scored 50 points a school-record seven times, won games by an average of 26.2 points.

With Kiffin calling the shots in 2005, the Trojans became the first school to have a 3,000-yard passer -- Leinart (3,815 yards), a pair of 1,000-yard runners -- Bush (1,777 yards) and LenDale White (1,319 yards) and a 1,000-yard receiver -- Jarrett (1,274 yards) -- in the same season.

He also mentored the Trojan wide receivers including Mike Williams, a consensus All-American first teamer and a finalist for the Biletnikoff Award in 2003 who set Southern California career (30) and season (16) touchdown reception records.

Kiffin also coached Keary Colbert, who set the Southern California career reception record (207) and was a NFL second round pick and Jarrett, who was named Freshman All-American first team.

He is, however, rather thin in terms of NFL experience after spending a single season -- 2000 -- in Jacksonville serving as a defensive quality control coach working with defensive backs.

Kiffin also was a finalist for the top job at the University of Minnesota earlier in the offseason.

As a player, Kiffin was a quarterback for Fresno State from 1994 to 1996. He started his coaching career after college working as a grad assistant at Fresno State.

Kiffin, current Raiders defensive coordinator Rob Ryan and former New York Giants coach Jim Fassel were the lone candidates still in the running to replace Shell. Chargers receivers coach James Lofton interviewed, but was removed from consideration last Friday.

Kiffin is expected to keep Ryan as his defensive coordinator.

The Raiders have serious personnel problems with one of the NFL's worst offenses, but their defense was among the league's best. Oakland also has the No. 1 pick in the upcoming draft.

As always, those interested will want to keep an eye on the News & Views section of the site for further staff-related developments in coming days and also watch here, the Headline News section, for more in-depth news and analysis related to Kiffin's hiring as the 2007 season draws nearer.