Coach Lane Kiffin praises Ole Miss football as an elite SEC job

Posted by author November 25, 2024 Football

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OXFORD — Ole Miss football coach Lane Kiffin is wrapping up his fifth season leading the program. It’s a personal record.

After one year coaching at Tennessee, almost four at Southern Cal, three at Florida Atlantic and an NFL and assistant coaching job mixed in, Kiffin has officially coached at Ole Miss (8-3, 4-3 SEC) longer than at any other program.

Before Ole Miss‘ Egg Bowl game against Mississippi State (2-9, 0-7) on Friday, Kiffin was asked how he views his current job and if he views the position as an elite one in the SEC.

“I do, for me,” he said. “I’ve been here going on five years. This has become a place I have really grown into . . . I’ve developed so many relationships. And my father’s situation, reflecting on that, I never thought he would have passed here in Oxford, Mississippi.”

Kiffin’s father, Monte, was a well-respected football coach and a huge influence on Lane. Monte Kiffin, who died in July at 84, coached at Ole Miss as a defensive analyst under his son.

“That really gave me a lot of appreciation for the people around here,” Kiffin said. “(Analyst) Joe Judge and I actually had a conversation about that this week. About how Mississippi is a really misunderstood place until you live here. Once you do, you kind of get it, so it’s a really special place to me. One I think we can win at.”

Sam Hutchens covers Ole Miss for the Clarion Ledger. Email him at Shutchens@gannett.com or reach him on X at @Sam_Hutchens_