Key Highlights
- Lane Kiffin stated he will not base his decision on money when considering coaching job offers.
- The Rebels are 7-1 this season and have a strong chance at their first College Football Playoff appearance.
- Kiffin addressed the coaching carousel rumors with his team before facing Oklahoma.
Lane Kiffin’s Stand Against Money in Coaching Decisions
Oxford, Mississippi – In an interview on ESPN’s “The Pat McAfee Show,” Lane Kiffin, the 50-year-old head coach of the Ole Miss Rebels, reaffirmed his commitment to making coaching decisions based on principles rather than financial incentives. Kiffin stated unequivocally that he has never made a decision based on money and will not do so in the future.
“I have never made a decision based on money, nor will I,” Kiffin said during the interview, addressing his potential move to one of two open coaching positions at LSU or Florida. His philosophy is rooted in personal experience: “I’ve seen too many examples in life that money does not buy happiness, so I’m never going to make a decision based on money. Nor do I care about it.”
Focus on Player Performance and Team Success
Kiffin has led the Rebels to a 51-19 overall record since taking over in 2018, positioning them for their first College Football Playoff appearance in program history with a strong 7-1 season. Despite recent success, Kiffin has not shied away from discussing the challenges of coaching rumors and distractions. He addressed these concerns directly with his team before facing Oklahoma on Saturday, October 25.
“I usually don’t talk about it with the team because we’ve dealt with this for a number of years because our players have performed really well and won a lot of games here,” Kiffin explained. “And so this attention has come with that.”
Kiffin emphasized that the team’s performance is what garners attention, which he sees as a positive reflection on his coaching methods: “I just told them, ‘Hey, this is a product of how you guys play. They see the way you play, so then people, fans are like, ‘We want that system.’ And they say, ‘Coach.’”
Dealing with Transfer Portal and Rumors
The assistant coaches and players also deal with constant inquiries from college programs regarding potential transfers. Kiffin noted the increased activity in this area due to the transfer portal: “Places saying, ‘Come here, you’ll get more money,’ because they’re playing well.” He believes that these distractions are now easier for his team to handle due to their recent success.
“I don’t think it’s that big a deal to them,” Kiffin said. “Really it’s the system of the players and the assistant coaches what a good job they do, and I just told them it’s a compliment to them.”
The Rebels remain ranked at No. 8 in the US LBM Coaches Poll as of October 26 and prepare for their Week 10 game against South Carolina on Saturday, November 1, at home in Oxford.
