Lane Kiffin Says He Will Stay With Alabama Through Playoffs

In his third season at Alabama, Lane Kiffin is reportedly interviewing at Houston on Sunday and is in the running to become LSU’s next offensive coordinator.

Lane Kiffin said after Alabama’s 54-16 whipping of Florida in the SEC Championship Game that he wants to stay on as the Crimson Tide’s offensive coordinator through the playoff regardless of whether he accepts another coaching position.

Kiffin, in his third season at Alabama, is reportedly interviewing at Houston on Sunday and is in the running to become LSU’s next offensive coordinator.

Asked whether he sees any circumstance in which he’d be at Alabama for another season, Kiffin said, “Yeah, I sure do.”

Alabama Crimson Tide

“I’m happy to be here,” he said after No. 1 Alabama’s win Saturday, which earned the program its 26th SEC title. “Coach Saban and I talked this week about what a great experience it’s been. … We’ll keep going from here. You know this season isn’t over.

“People talk about next year, but we have a lot of work to do.”

In true freshman Jalen Hurts, Kiffin has won three SEC titles with as many quarterbacks. The coordinator said he’s learned at Alabama how to build an offense around players.

“It’s been a great experience,” he said. “I’m a lot better for it, three years later for being able to go through that.”

Saban was asked Saturday if he expected any member of his staff offered another job to coach with the Tide through the playoff or to leave immediately.

“I think it depends on the circumstance and the situation, and I think those are things that people have to agree on relative to what their goals and aspirations are, the circumstance and situation that they’re in, their commitment to our players and our team, and do we think it’s going to affect our organization long term,” Saban said. “So those things are always evaluated.”

Saban earlier this week praised Kiffin’s ability to mold his offensive systems around his Alabama players during his three years with the Tide, despite working with three different starting quarterbacks. Kiffin was able to help Alabama’s offense evolve from its normal run-first, pro-style and play-action attack to a more spread look that has featured a lot more zone-read in 2016.

“Those are signs of tremendous maturity as a coach who is not just committed to a system, but is committed to doing things that he has to help players be successful,” Saban said. “I think he’s proven when he was a head coach he had a reasonably good amount of success – much more than I think he gets credit for – and he’s done a phenomenal job in the three years he’s been with us.”

Next: Odds on Lane Kiffin's next coaching job

Kiffin previously served as USC’s head coach for three years, compiling a 28-15 mark before he was unceremoniously fired in September 2013 after a 3-2 start. He also went 7-6 during his only year as the Tennessee Volunteers’ head coach in 2009. He also was the head coach of the NFL’s Oakland Raiders for 20 games.