Saban advises Kiffin to stay at Ole Miss

TUSCALOOSA, AL — Legendary former Alabama coach Nick Saban publicly advised Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin on Wednesday, November 13, urging him to remain in Oxford rather than pursuing potential coaching vacancies at Southeastern Conference rivals LSU or Florida. Saban shared his insights during his weekly radio broadcast, “Hey Coach & The Nick Saban Show,” which airs from Tuscaloosa.

Saban, who oversaw Kiffin’s successful tenure as his offensive coordinator at Alabama from 2014 to 2016, emphasized the strong program Kiffin has meticulously built at Ole Miss. “Lane has done an outstanding job building something really special in Oxford,” Saban stated during the broadcast. “Sometimes the grass isn’t always greener, and what you’ve cultivated where you are can be more valuable than starting over elsewhere.”

Kiffin has indeed transformed the Ole Miss Rebels football program since his arrival. This season, he has guided the team to an impressive 9-2 record, securing a No. 6 national ranking, a testament to the significant turnaround under his leadership.

Saban’s timely advice comes as Kiffin’s name frequently surfaces in discussions for high-profile head coaching positions, particularly in a year marked by significant coaching carousel speculation. Both LSU, currently led by Brian Kelly, and Florida, under Billy Napier, are reportedly experiencing immense pressure due to recent team struggles and perceived underperformance.

LSU, despite a roster boasting considerable talent, has been characterized by an “unpredictable” season, falling short of lofty preseason expectations. Meanwhile, Billy Napier’s Florida Gators are enduring a challenging campaign, holding a disappointing 5-6 record this season after finishing 6-7 in the previous year. These struggles have placed both Kelly and Napier squarely on the “hot seat” in the fiercely competitive SEC.

For Saban, the message to his former protégé was unequivocal: continuity and capitalizing on the momentum at Ole Miss is the wisest path forward. He underscored that Kiffin’s established success and deep roots in Oxford make staying put a more strategic move than venturing into potentially tumultuous environments, even at programs with larger historical footprints. The implicit message being that Kiffin has found a place where his unique coaching style thrives, and moving could disrupt that hard-earned synergy.