As Arkansas rumor swirls, Kiffin is quiet
FAU coach Lane Kiffin may have his sights set on returning to the SEC.
Multiple media outlets have reported that Kiffin met with University of Arkansas officials on Sunday about their football head coaching opening. USA Today was first to report the visit.
Kiffin hasn’t formally accepted any offer, and led the Owls’ Tuesday practice before meeting with reporters on a teleconference call ahead of the Conference USA Championship Game against UAB on Saturday at FAU Stadium.
Kiffin said on Sunday during a call with reporters that he doesn’t address the coaching rumors with his team, and reiterated that message on Tuesday.
“I’ve never addressed that,” Kiffin said. “Maybe I’m wrong, but no matter where I’ve been, whatever’s been going on, I’ve never addressed that with the team. It shouldn’t really matter, I wouldn’t think. Obviously it does more with recruits and stuff. You deal with that, but it is what it is. If you get mentioned for a job, it’s usually because you’re winning and a byproduct of your players and coaches doing well.”
This isn’t the the first coaching job Kiffin, who’s in his third season with the Owls, has been linked to this season.
CBS Sports’ Dennis Dodd tweeted on Nov. 4 that Kiffin expressed interest in the Florida State Seminoles’ opening. Kiffin appeared to have shot down his reported interest in the Seminoles’ coaching job when he tweeted, “No but let’s do all that and stay right here and then do it again next year!!” when he was asked on Twitter, “Let’s win out the rest of the year, win the conference championship and our bowl game, and then you can go to FSU. Sound like a deal?”
FAU Athletic Director Brian White has previously stated he won’t comment on other school’s coaching searches.
“Out of respect for the process, we will not comment on coaching searches at other schools,” White said in a statement.
Kiffin has previous coaching experience in the SEC. He went 7-6 in one season at Tennessee in 2009, and was Alabama’s offensive coordinator from 2014-16 before taking over the Owls’ head coaching reigns. Kiffin was also the head coach at USC from 2010-13.
He has a 25-13 record at FAU.
The Owls have won two C-USA East Division titles and one conference title under Kiffin, who signed a six-year extension with the Owls in June 2018 that runs through 2027.
Before this season started, Kiffin said he could see himself building FAU for the long haul.
“I definitely can, and I know every coach says that,” Kiffin said. “I would’ve struggled to say that 13 years ago or whatever it was when I first became a head coach, because you’re younger and everything you think of is you’re looking at finances and making money and how big the jobs are. “
He also said: “I think you get more comfortable with the whole university, your players, coaches.” Kiffin said about entering his third season. “It’s like living in a house. You’re more comfortable after living there three years than when you first moved in. I think there’s a lot to that.”