Kiffin to be head coach at Florida Atlantic
The University of Alabama is losing its offensive coordinator, but he’s not leaving the program just yet. Lane Kiffin is expected to be named the next head coach at Florida Atlantic University, UA head coach Nick Saban confirmed on Monday.
Kiffin will remain with the Crimson Tide during the College Football Playoff, Saban said at a news conference. Alabama plays Washington in the Peach Bowl on Dec. 31 in a CFP semifinal game.
“Lane's done a phenomenal job for us the last three years,” Saban said. “We appreciate the impact that he's made on this program. We think that this is a wonderful opportunity for him to be a head coach again.”
Saban said he did not have a timeline for replacing Kiffin. A dead period in recruiting began on Monday and continues through Jan. 11, after the national championship game concludes.
Kiffin told reporters after the SEC Championship Game in Atlanta that he hoped to finish the season with Alabama.
“I'm worried about finishing this year,” he said. “Last year was awesome and we finished with a championship. We've got a lot of work to be able to do that again. We want to do it two years in a row, it would be really special.”
Kiffin leaves after three impressive seasons as Alabama's offensive coordinator. He helped the Crimson Tide win three conference championships and a national title, and make the College Football Playoffs in all three of his seasons in Tuscaloosa. Alabama has gone 39-3 during his three years and is pursuing another national championship. UA has also had three players win SEC Offensive Player of the Year during his time in Tuscaloosa.
“I think FAU has selected someone that is going to do a great job for them,” Saban said. “He's done a great job here molding our offensive players to what they can do to have the best chance to be successful, and I think that's always something that is very telling about the quality of a coach.”
The 2014 offense set several school records. It compiled the most yards (6,783) in Alabama history and the most yards per game (484.5). Wide receiver Amari Cooper set a school record for most receptions in a season (124), most receiving yards (1,727) and most receiving touchdowns (16). Cooper was a finalist for the Heisman Trophy. Quarterback Blake Sims also set a school record with 3,487 passing yards that season.
Kiffin helped Alabama win its 25th SEC title and its 16th national championship in 2015. Running back Derrick Henry won the Heisman Trophy while setting school records with 395 carries for 2,219 yards and 28 rushing touchdowns.
Kiffin helped Alabama break in a new starting quarterback in each of his three seasons. He helped guide Jalen Hurts this season as Alabama's first true freshman quarterback in 20 years. Alabama is averaging 40.5 points per game and 471.3 yards per game in 2016 as it enters the playoff. Hurts was voted league’s offensive player of the year and first-team all-conference by league coaches for the 2016 season.
Kiffin previously went 7-6 as head coach at Tennessee in 2009 before leaving for Southern Cal. He was 28-15 as head coach for the Trojans from 2010 until he was fired in 2013. He also spent two years as head coach of the Oakland Raiders.
He was the highest-paid offensive coordinator in college football this season, making $1.4 million before bonuses. But his contract was set to expire on Feb. 28, 2017, and he did not receive an extension when his salary was raised in September.
Kiffin had been considered a strong candidate to be head coach at Houston before that vacancy was filled last Friday. He had also been considered the leading candidate for the offensive coordinator job at LSU that remains open.
Aaron Suttles and Tommy Deas contributed to this story.