Lane Kiffin announced he is leaving Ole Miss to become the next head football coach at LSU, a decision he detailed en route to the airport, just days before the Rebels are slated to host a first-round College Football Playoff game. Kiffin, who lead Ole Miss to an 11-1 record this season-one of the best in program history-explained he felt it was time for a “new chapter” after six seasons in oxford.
Kiffin told ESPN he is proud of the success achieved at Ole Miss, including four double-digit-win seasons and the program’s best-ever regular season. He consulted with mentors Pete Carroll and Nick Saban before making his decision, recalling Carroll advising him, “Your dad would tell you to go, man, take the shot.”
He acknowledged regret over his brief tenure at Tennessee,stating,”I always hated how we only gave one year to Tennessee and left.” Kiffin emphasized his desire to leave Ole Miss having contributed significantly to the program, pointing to “some of the most historic wins in this stadium we’ve ever had.”
Kiffin expressed hope that Ole Miss fans will eventually appreciate the accomplishments during his time with the Rebels, characterizing it as “the best run that’s ever been done in the history of the school.” He also stated he fully supports the decision of Ole Miss athletic director Keith Carter regarding coaching the team through the playoff run.
