Pat Haden, athletic director at the University of Southern California (USC), has kept his promise in keeping the search for Lane Kiffin's replacement private, but the Denver Broncos did not.

Following reports that Jack Del Rio interviewed for the Trojans' head football coaching job, the Broncos confirmed their defensive coordinator did so during the team's bye week. According to the Associated Press, Haden asked Broncos' president John Elway if he could interview Del Rio at a time convenient for the team.

Del Rio is serving as the Bronco's interim head coach while John Fox recovers from heart surgery that replaced an aortic valve. He suffered what appeared to be a heart attack Nov. 2 while on the golf course during the Bronco's bye week USA Today reported. It was not a heart attack, but Fox collapsed after feeling light-headed and tests showed he needed immediate surgery.

Also an interim head coach, Ed Orgeron has lead USC back into the top-25 since Lane Kiffin's firing. The Trojans upset fourth-ranked Stanford Saturday and are now ranked 23rd in the nation and even have a shot at competing for the Pac-12 championship.

Del Rio, a USC alumnus, has long been a favorite for the Trojans' head coaching job, one of college football's most coveted positions and programs. Still, no one could have seen Orgeron leading the team back to relevance in the second half of the season.

Haden will no doubt have a tough call to make at the end of the season. Su'a Cravens, a freshman defensive back who came up with an interception that helped USC best Stanford, said the team wants Orgeron.

"Coach O needs to be here next year... we want Coach O next year," Cravens said after the game, according to the Los Angeles Times. "Forget the hiring, forget all that. We got Coach O and that's all we need."

Orgeron was given the position on a strictly interim basis, but that of course can change. USC faces Colorado next week and UCLA the week after. Winning both games, combined with certain teams losing could help USC to a Pac-12 championship. The Trojans are also bowl eligible this year and could very well see themselves in one after the regular season.