Kiffin gets fresh start at Florida Atlantic.
MADISON - Florida Atlantic University officials had to know the risks associated with hiring Lane Kiffin, which they did last December.
Kiffin, 42, has a history of courting, embracing and seemingly reveling in controversy.
He was 31 when he was named head coach of the NFL’s Oakland Raiders before the 2007 season, after serving as an assistant for six seasons at USC. He lasted two seasons in Oakland before being fired.
He returned to college at Tennessee (2009) and lasted just one season – before abruptly quitting and taking over the USC program.
He lasted less than four seasons at USC. Then-athletic director Pat Haden fired Kiffin after the fifth game of the ’13 season, a 62-41 loss at Arizona State. Kiffin learned his fate at Los Angeles International Airport and was not allowed to return to USC with the team.
He served as Alabama’s offensive coordinator from 2014 through last season and helped the Crimson Tide win a national title in ’15. Yet after being hired by Florida Atlantic, he spent more time prepping for his new job than preparing Alabama to face Clemson in the national title game. Alabama head coach Nick Saban gave Kiffin the boot before the game and replaced him with Steve Sarkisian.
Now Kiffin brings the Owls (0-1) to Camp Randall Stadium for a game against No. 11 Wisconsin (1-0) at 11 a.m. Saturday.
Kiffin’s Florida Atlantic debut was ugly as the Owls suffered a 42-19 loss to Navy in front of a crowd of 28,841, thirdhighest in the seven-year history of FAU stadium.
“I thought it was pretty embarrassing,” Kiffin said after the game. “There was so much buildup to the game around here with the fans, around the school, energy ... I really feel like we let them down.”
Expectations are below modest at Florida Atlantic. The Owls were the No. 5 team in the East Division of Conference USA in the league’s preseason poll.
Former UW assistant Charlie Partridge compiled a record of 7-17 in the league and 9-27 overall before being fired and replaced by Kiffin.
Kiffin has relied heavily on transfers from Power Five programs, some of whom ran into trouble at their previous school. He also hired Kendal Briles as his offensive coordinator.
Briles was the offensive coordinator under his father, Art, at Baylor. That school is embroiled in a sexual assault scandal that for the time being has left Art Briles looking for work.
“We’re LSU,” Kiffin joked. “Know what that is? Last Strike U.”
Then in the days leading to the opener against Navy, Kiffin was busy answering questions about comments from previous co-workers, many anonymous sources.
The picture painted was that of a bright coach whose ego undermines his ability and rubs others the wrong way.
“It really bugs me when people write an article that puts no names in it,” Kiffin recently told a group of reporters. “Everything negative in the article is just referring to an unidentified source — that part really bugs me. It is what it is. …
“You guys get to write what you want and never be held accountable for it. I’ve told you before: you guys got great jobs.”
He also found the time to take a shot at Alabama, telling the Washington Post the Crimson Tide would have defeated Clemson if he had been calling the plays.
Perhaps. But why go there?
Why? Because that is how Kiffin operates.