From Oxford to Baton Rouge: Unmasking Lane Kiffin’s true character

Photo courtesy of Bobak Ha'Eri/Wikimedia Commons

After a historic 11-win season and a long-awaited CFP berth, Ole Miss was blindsided when Lane Kiffin bolted for LSU—transforming a fairytale finish into turmoil as the Rebels reckon with another dramatic coaching exit in Kiffin’s controversy-filled career.

After the Ole Miss Rebels defeated their arch rivals, the Mississippi State Bulldogs, in their annual rivalry game known as the Eggbowl, it was seemingly a fairytale ending for a season that saw the program win 11 games for the first time and clinch its first berth in the college football playoff. There was no questioning that vibes were sky-high in Oxford, and most of the praise was rightfully given to Rebels head coach Lane Kiffin. In his six seasons at the helm of Ole Miss, Kiffin had transformed the program from an afterthought in the Southeastern Conference to a legitimate contender for a national championship. 

But that fairytale season suddenly turned into a horrific nightmare for Ole Miss faithful. Before and after the Eggbowl, rumors were swirling that coach Kiffin was being heavily pursued by Louisiana State University (LSU) to fill their vacant coaching position. Many assumed that Kiffin would stay loyal to the players and to the school that he helped guide to their best season in school history. Well, they were completely and utterly incorrect, as Lane Kiffin decided to abandon ship and sign a lucrative seven-year, 91 million dollar contract with LSU on Sunday, Nov. 30. I will be breaking down why this move shouldn’t have come as a surprise when revisiting Kiffin's murky past. 

Lane is a coach's son first and foremost, his dad being longtime National Football League (NFL) defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin. Lane quickly shot up the coaching ranks and received his first major college coaching opportunity at the University of Southern California (USC) under the tutelage of Pete Carroll. While his father was a defensive savant, Lane’s specialty was on the offensive side of the ball. During his time at USC, Kiffin rapidly gained a reputation as one of the brightest offensive minds in the collegiate sphere. After two national championships as an assistant coach at Southern California, Lane was hired as the Oakland Raiders head coach in 2007, making him the youngest coach in the NFL at the time. 

After things did not work out with the Raiders, Lane would return to the collegiate ranks and would have head coaching stints with the Tennessee Volunteers, USC Trojans, and Florida Atlantic Owls. While on the surface it might seem as though Lane should be lauded for his coaching achievements at such a young age, instead, Lane’s moral integrity was constantly being put into question, and when you dig deeper, it is not hard to see why. 

For all his accomplishments, it is hard to argue that Lane is not a narcissistic and self-absorbed individual who thrives on drama and media attention. For his entire career, Lane’s coaching exits have gotten increasingly dramatic and ugly. Starting with Oakland, Lane was abruptly fired after his first season after sparring with Raiders owner Al Davis. In an infamous press conference, Davis labeled Lane as a “professional liar” who “conned me like he conned all of you people.” Then there was Tennessee, where Kiffin suddenly abandoned the team after just one season for his “dream job” as head coach of USC. This leads us back to the present, where once again Kiffin has left a university high and dry, simultaneously leaving everyone in Oxford, Mississippi feeling befuddled and betrayed. 

It is easy to look at Kiffin’s move as a sign of the chaos and unpredictability of this new age in college football that is ruled by Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL), transfer portal fluidity, and a 12-team playoff. But Ole Miss and college football fans alike must realize that this startling move is more tied to Kiffin’s own toxic and self-righteous nature. If this were the first time Lane had suddenly and dramatically left a coaching position, I would give him the benefit of the doubt. However, this is now the third time in which Lane has abruptly left a school for a “better opportunity.” While I do feel terrible for Ole Miss and their passionate fanbase, it’s hard to say they should not have seen this coming when diving into Kiffin’s shady past. To echo legendary author Stephen King, “Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. Fool me three times, shame on both of us.”