Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Football families
Lane Kiffin and Terry Bowden both reap the benefits
Boca Bowl coaches have famous fathers.
BOCA RATON — They are probably more famous because of their fathers.
Florida Atlantic coach Lane Kiffin and Akron’s Terry Bowden are often referred to as the sons of coaching greats. When their teams meet Tuesday in the Cheribundi Tart Cherry Boca Raton Bowl, they will once again take a backseat to their dads.
And both are perfectly fine with that.
“We’re probably two coaches who aren’t embarrassed to say we are vicariously famous and we always have been because of our dads,” Bowden said.
Monte Kiffin is considered one of the greatest defensive coordinators in NFL history, and Bobby Bowden is often listed among the top NCAA coaches of all time. Both played roles in their sons following in their footsteps.
Lane Kiffin and Terry Bowden grew up trying to emulate their
fathers. The results have shown during this season. In Kiffin’s first season in Boca, FAU had 10 wins for the second time in school history, won the Conference USA championship and are playing in its first bowl game since 2008.
Bowden has led Akron to bowl games in two of the past three seasons. Before his arrival, the school had just one postseason appearance. Both sons credit their fathers for the success.
“We couldn’t be where we are without them,” Bowden said. “I think both of us have a family that loves football. We love football. That’s what we were taught when we were young.”
Bobby Bowden coached at Florida State for 33 years, compiling a 304-97-4 record. The Seminoles won two national titles and were 12-time champs of the Atlantic Coast Conference. He also coached Terry for one season when he was at West Virginia.
“To me, the similarities come out whenever you hear people talk about them,” Lane Kiffin said. “Whether it’s a former player or former coaches, they were so passionate about their players and they coached the coaches so well.”
Monte Kiffin was an NFL assistant for 26 years. He made his mark as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive coordinator from 1996-2008. He invented the “Tampa Cover 2” defense that is widely considered one of the most influential concepts in modern football. Most current teams are still using a version of the defense.
With their sons playing against each other, it will give the fathers opportunity to catch up. They have been close friends over the years.
“The impact [Monte Kiffin] made on college football and NFL football still is prominent today,” Terry Bowden said. “I’m sure when my dad comes in on [Sunday] they’ll get together and spend some time.”
The sons have continued their father’s blueprint of keeping their coaching staffs in the family. Monte Kiffin still serves as a defensive assistant at FAU while his other son, Chris, is the defensive coordinator. At Akron, Bobby Bowden’s other son, Jeff, is the special teams coach.
Both have also mimicked their father’s coaching style. The younger Bowden has always been considered a player’s coach just like his dad. Kiffin also has strong relationship with the players, which has played a role in FAU’s quick turnaround.
“They weren’t just walkaround coaches,” Lane Kiffin said. “They were very hands on. Players loved playing for them and coaches loved coaching for them.”