LSU coach Lane Kiffin vowed Monday to make his new team “the best program in all of college football” after leaving Ole Miss heading into the playoffs.
Kiffin said he tried his best to convince Ole Miss officials to let him coach the Rebels in the postseason, but the school did not allow him to stay on the job after he transferred to LSU, a move that drew widespread criticism of Kiffin.
“It was … painful and difficult,” Kiffin said at his introductory news conference. “We tried everything possible [in negotiations] a long time ago, last night and until the morning… We presented a plan [to stay through the College Football Playoff]. In the end, it's their decision. And I respect that.”
Kiffin said he consulted with former college football champion coaches Nick Saban and Pete Carroll as he considered LSU's offer. Saban led the Tigers to a national title in 2003 and then added six more at Alabama.
“I think about and respect Coach Saban,” Kiffin said. “So there's a reason we're here.”
Speaking about the appeal of the LSU program, Kiffin said, “When you consider the history, tradition, passion and great players of the state of Louisiana, no one can argue that when you're in Tiger Stadium on Saturday night, there's nothing like it. This place is built for championships with championship expectations – we understand that – but as an elite athlete, that's what you want and that's why we're here.”
Kiffin added at least $4 million to his annual salary in his transfer from Ole Miss to LSU, according to the terms of his contract reported by NOLA.com on Monday. Kiffin's contract is worth $91 million over seven years, with an average annual salary of $13 million per year, which would make him second among college football coaches.
Kiffin, who was paid $9 million a year at Ole Miss, ended weeks of speculation about his future and confirmed his departure to LSU on Sunday. He has officially signed to take the reins at LSU.
The fifth-year player leaves after the Rebels finished the regular season with an 11-1 record and a likely berth in the 12-team College Football Playoff this season. In a statement, Kiffin confirmed that he will not coach Ole Miss in the postseason. However, his contract with LSU also includes compensation, which he would have made based on how far the Rebels made it in this year's College Football Playoff. That means he could earn about $1 million from his new school if Ole Miss wins the national championship this year.
Kiffin has compiled a 55-19 (.743) record with Ole Miss since taking the reins in 2020, leading the team to five straight appearances, including wins in the Outback Bowl, Peach Bowl and Gator Bowl. Kiffin previously rehabilitated his career after tumultuous stints at Tennessee (7-6) and Southern California (28-15), serving as an assistant under Nick Saban at Alabama from 2014-16. This led to his return to a leading role with Florida Atlantic during the 2017-19 season, where he went 27-13.
Kiffin also had an unsuccessful 20-game NFL coaching stint with the Raiders in 2007-08 before being fired four games into his second season. He went 5-15.
