Tag: coach

The latest on Lane Kiffin

Many expected to find out Lane Kiffin’s football coaching future Friday after a meeting with top Ole Miss officials. We at least know what the future apparently holds through the end of next week.

So the white hot speculation in the days leading up to that meeting will not subside just yet, especially since two other Southeastern Conference schools still want Kiffin as their coach and are willing to wait for his answer. Yahoo Sports reported Friday night LSU is looking to make an offer that may include a contract worth at least $90 million and a big money investment in NIL. That report comes after a Thursday meeting between representatives of Kiffin and Florida, according to 247 Sports. Former Mississippi State and current Florida athletic director Scott Stricklin reportedly took part in that meeting.

Also not likely to subside is the grumbling by some fans that Ole Miss is even in such an awkward position in the first place.

Meanwhile, the 10-1 Rebels not only have the Egg Bowl ahead but a likely appearance in the College Football Playoff, which could include an opening round game at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.

As for AD Keith Carter, he has two challenges to address if Kiffin departs for Baton Rouge, Gainesville or elsewhere:

  • Choose an interim coach
  • Choose a permanent replacement

The second challenge would likely be the tougher task since Ole Miss would not be the only school looking for a football coach from the same group of candidates — a group that becomes smaller if Arkansas, Auburn and the Florida/LSU loser make hires before the CFP first round December 19 or 20.

Then again, Carter could find his new coach in Oxford if the interim coach can guide the Rebels to a successful postseason run.

Another SEC coach out

Auburn Tigers

Auburn University has fired head football coach Hugh Freeze after a 10-3 loss to Kentucky at home Saturday.

Below is the formal announcement from the university:

AUBURN, Ala.— Auburn Athletics Director John Cohen announced on Sunday a change in leadership for the Auburn Football program. D.J. Durkin will serve as interim head coach. (NOTE: Durkin served as co-defensive coordinator at Ole Miss under head coach Lane Kiffin for the 2020 and 2021 seasons.)

Statement from Auburn Athletic Director John Cohen

“I have informed Coach Freeze of my decision to make a change in leadership with the Auburn Football program. Coach Freeze is a man of integrity, and we are appreciative of his investment in Auburn and his relentless work over the last three years in bolstering our roster. Our expectations for Auburn Football are to annually compete for championships and the search for the next leader of Auburn Football begins immediately.”

Freeze later released a statement on X:

Freeze returned to the SEC five years after his 2017 resignation from Ole Miss, which was triggered by the revelation of a phone call made on his university phone to a number connected to an escort service.

He left Oxford with a 39-25 record that included a top 10 finish to the 2015 season with a Sugar Bowl victory. NCAA violations led to 27 of those wins being vacated.

Following four successful seasons at Liberty, Freeze arrived at Auburn with expectations he would return the Tigers to their winning ways.

However, his teams never finished above .500 in his three seasons on the Plains. His overall record coaching the Tigers is 15-19.

With Freeze’s firing, the Southeastern Conference now has four open football coaching jobs: Arkansas, Auburn, Florida and LSU.

Kiffin to the NFL?

Sports host Colin Cowherd on Friday pitched the idea of Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin leaving college football for a return to the NFL by taking the head coaching job with the Miami Dolphins.

At the moment, Mike McDaniel is still the head coach. General manager Chris Grier and the Dolphins parted ways Friday.

Kiffin coached the Oakland Raiders in 2007 and finished with a 4-12 record. He was 1-3 in 2008 when owner Al Davis fired him.

Another SEC football coach fired

Brian Kelly (LSU Athletics)

LSU has fired football coach Brian Kelly becoming the third SEC school to get rid of its head coach this season with Arkansas and Florida already making the same move.

Ross Dellenger of Yahoo Sports reports Kelly addressed his team Sunday night following his dismissal, which came one night after the Tigers were blown out by Texas A&M 49-25 dropping the team to 5-3 this season. One of those losses happened in Oxford when Ole Miss defeated LSU 24-19.

Kelly came to LSU from Notre Dame in 2021 and produced a 34-14 record in his four seasons in Baton Rouge. However, his teams never made the College Football Playoff, and there were expectations this would be the season the Bayou Bengals would finally reach the CFP.

LSU started the season 9th in the AP Top 25 college football rankings. The Tigers fell out of the poll with Saturday’s loss.

Bruce Feldman and Ralph D. Russo of The Athletic report Kelly and athletics director Scott Woodward had a disagreement earlier in the day over proposed changes to the coaching staff.

The university says terms of the separation are being negotiated. It’s reported Kelly’s buyout is in the neighborhood of $53 million.

Associate head coach Frank Wilson will coach the team the remainder of this season.

LSU has a bye next Saturday before facing Alabama the following week.

Sports Illustrated’s Pat Forde with the big picture look at college football following Brian Kelly’s firing (and it includes Lane Kiffin)