Looks like the days in Boca Raton are numbered for Lane Kiffin as he is rumored to make his return to the SEC. Ole Miss, not Arkansas like everyone first speculated, is looking to finalize a deal with Kiffin as early as Saturday.
ESPN, USA Today, and CBS Sports have all reported that they have sources confirming current Florida Atlantic head coach is the Rebel’s top target for their head coaching vacancy. Kiffin has lead the Owls to a 9-3 record and is 25-13 all time with Florida Atlantic. FAU still has to play UAB in the Conference USA Championship game Saturday evening at 1:30 ET.
If this deal is finalized, Kiffin would be making his return to the SEC after just three years with FAU. Kiffin coached Tennessee back in 2009 and went 7-6 that season before heading to USC. Lane was coach for 3 and a half seasons with the Trojans before being let go in 2013. In December later that year he would become the offensive coordinator at Alabama.
At Alabama he helped transform the Crimson Tide’s offense into the pass happy offense we see today. He would help the Tide win an SEC Championship in 2014, and then yet another National Championship in 2015.
Three years later Kiffin would be offered the head coaching position at Florida Atlantic, where he would go 11-3 in his first season. After that season it was announced Kiffin had signed a 10 year deal with FAU to keep him through 2027. If FAU can win against UAB, this will be Kiffin’s 5th team in 6 seasons to win a conference championship.