Saban hires Kiffin as offensive coach

Alabama hired former Southern California coach Lane Kiffin Friday as its offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. Kiffin returns to the Southeastern Conference after head coaching stints with the NFL’s Oakland Raiders, Alabama rival Tennessee and the Trojans. He replaces Doug Nussmeier, who left Alabama for Michigan.

“He is an outstanding and creative offensive coach who has great experience both at the college and NFL level,” coach Nick Saban said in a statement.

Kiffin spent a week in Tuscaloosa, Ala., recently exchanging ideas with Saban and his staff and observing Alabama’s offense. Now, he’s the splashiest hire of Saban’s tenure at Alabama, which has won three national titles in the past five seasons. Kiffin, 38, was 28-15 in three-plus seasons with USC. He was fired five games into this past season.

Oklahoma

Former Texas Tech quarterback Baker Mayfield lost an appeal to avoid giving up a year of eligibility at Oklahoma. According to Texas Tech policy, when a player transfers within the conference, he must sit out the next year and lose a year of eligibility. Mayfield maintained that he shouldn’t lose eligibility based on the fact that he walked on and was never under scholarship at Texas Tech. A five-member panel of Texas Tech’s athletics council heard Mayfield’s case and unanimously rejected it, saying its decision was in line with school and NCAA rules.

Florida State

President Barack Obama called Florida State coach Jimbo Fisher to congratulate him on the Seminoles’ national title. Obama told Fisher he’s looking forward to welcoming the team to the White House to celebrate the championship. Florida State defeated Auburn, 34-31, Monday night in the Bowl Championship Series national title game to finish 14-0.

Western Kentucky

The Hilltoppers promoted offensive coordinator Jeff Brohm to head coach after Bobby Petrino left to re-join Louisville.

Westminster

Scott Benzel was named head coach for the Titans. Benzel previously was the associate head coach and co-defensive coordinator the past two seasons for Saint Francis.

Saint Vincent

Elsewhere

Saint Vincent College announced that Ron Dolciato, associate head coach and offensive coordinator at John Carroll University whose 24-year career includes 19 winning seasons, was named Bearcats head coach. In 2013, John Carroll went 9-1, went to the NCAA Division III playoffs and was ranked 13th in the division.

The following players declared for the NFL draft: Notre Dame tight end Troy Niklas; California defensive tackle Viliami Moala; and Jacksonville State defensive back Pierre Warren.