Kiffin gushes over new OC Weis Jr.

BOCA RATON — Florida Atlantic coach Lane Kiffin didn’t shy from the compliments when discussing his decision to hire offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr.

In a recent interview with CBS Sports, Kiffin explained why it was an easy choice to add the 24-year-old Weis. He is the youngest offensive coordinator at the Division I-A level. His father is the former coach at Notre Dame and Kansas and spent time as an NFL assistant with the New England Patriots.

Weis’ experience was among the things that impressed Kiffin. Weis has held jobs at University of Florida, Alabama and most recently was an offensive assistant with the Atlanta Falcons.

In many ways, he is like Kiffin, who earned positions at an early age.

“I hate to sound arrogant but at 24, I was the USC tight ends coach,” Kiffin said told CBS Sports. “But he had a lot more experience than I did [at that age].”

Kiffin is also confident Weis will be a great recruiter. The reason? The looks of his significant other.

“He had all A’s in every single thing he’s ever done,” Kiffin told CBS Sports. “Normally those kids can’t socialize. That’s not him at all.

“He’s got a beautiful wife. How’d Charlie get her? I look at assistant coaches’ wives. It tells me if they are good recruiters or not.”

The Owls, who finished 11-3 and won the Boca Raton Bowl, open spring practice March 20.