BAMANEWSBOT
Staff
A former head coach in both college and the NFL, Lane Kiffin is entering his second season as Alabama's offensive coordinator
Lane Kiffin and father Monte Kiffin both had laptops in front of them, an informal film session inside the elder Kiffin's Tampa home this summer.
Father and son watched offensive game film from multiple Alabama games last season, including the Tide's Sugar Bowl loss to Ohio State. The two coaches shared observations, asked each other questions and just "talked ball," Monte said.
Their conversations during Lane's 10-day visit to Tampa ranged from football to fishing to Lane's children.
What never came up ā and rarely does, Monte said ā is what lies ahead for his son beyond Alabama after collectively unsuccessful head coaching stints with the Oakland Raiders, Tennessee and USC.
"He doesn't talk about it a whole lot," Monte Kiffin, the respected longtime NFL coach and defensive coordinator, told AL.com. "He just wants to take it one year at a time, and that's what you should do."
Lane Kiffin is entering his second season as Alabama's offensive coordinator after being hired last January.
Multiple teams reached out to Kiffin regarding coaching opportunities following last season, Monte said. He wasn't interested.
Kiffin's focus is solely on Alabama, his father said.
"I can tell you for sure he's not thinking about the next head job," Monte said. "He's gotten some interest, but I don't think Lane was all excited about going because he wants to get his feet on the ground again."
'It's turned out to be a good fit'
Kiffin's union with the Tide has been beneficial for both sides.
In his first season as Alabama's offensive coordinator, Kiffin helped Alabama rank third in the SEC in total and scoring offense while proving instrumental in the development of first-year starting quarterback Blake Sims.
Under the guidance of Kiffin, Sims threw for 3,487 yards and 28 touchdowns with just 10 interceptions while leading the team to an SEC championship and a berth in the College Football Playoff after an underwhelming spring.
For the now 40-year old Kiffin, this is a chance to rebuild the reputation that was so strong when he was considered one of the rising stars in coaching less than 10 years ago as an assistant coach, passing game coordinator and co-offensive coordinator during the Matt Leinart/Reggie Bush era at USC.
Working under Alabama coach Nick Saban, Kiffin was a finalist last season for the Broyles Award, presented annually to the top assistant in college football.
"He was out of a job, and it's not like people were knocking the door down just because Lane had just gotten fired as a head coach and this and that, so do we really want to hire him as an offensive coordinator? Because some guys will want to come in and still want to be the head coach or whatever," Monte said of Lane, who had been out of work since being fired during his fourth season as the head coach at USC prior to being hired by Alabama. "I'm sure Nick had to give it some thought. But from Lane's standpoint, I think he was really excited the day that Nick Saban called and offered him the job. No doubt about it.
"And I think it's turned out to be a good fit because Nick's a hard-nosed coach. He's kind of old-school. When he hires a coordinator or position coach, he wants to do it his way, and I think he and Lane actually hit it off pretty well. ...
"I do know this, Lane's a real detailed guy on offense. You don't just go out and do this and do that. You have to be detailed at whatever you do, and that's what Nick is. He's big on the details. He's tough on the players. He's very disciplined. And Lane may not come off quite the same as Nick. But down deep as far as philosophy, Lane and Saban aren't that far apart as far as doing it the right way."
Continuing to evolve
Widely considered one of the top offensive minds in the country, Kiffin is growing as a coach under Saban, who has won three national championships since being hired by Alabama in 2007.
"Lane talks a lot about Saban's organization," Monte said, "and also about how important it is to be on the details."
Kiffin has also spent time this offseason attempting to learn more about attacking opposing defenses.
Several years ago, a younger Kiffin ā then at USC ā attended Tampa Bay Buccaneers offseason practices and sat in on quarterback meetings run by then-coach Jon Gruden.
"He picked up a lot from Jon Gruden," said Monte, who was the Buccaneers' defensive coordinator from 1996-2008. "He will tell you that to this day that a lot of the offense that they put in at USC ā of course Pete Carroll had to OK a lot ā was a lot of Jon Gruden. Jon Gruden had a lot to do with his play-calling and how to set up an offense."
This offseason, Kiffin met with and talked offense with new Houston coach Tom Herman, last year's Broyles Award winner while at Ohio State and the offensive coordinator of the Buckeyes' offense that racked up 537 yards in a 42-35 Sugar Bowl win over the Tide in January.
Challenging road ahead
Kiffin's ability as a coach and play-caller will be tested this season.
Alabama will have another first-year starting quarterback. Heisman Trophy finalistAmari Cooper is gone. So is standout running back T.J. Yeldon. The Tide are also replacing three starting offensive linemen as well as other key players such as wide receiver DeAndrew White and versatile fullback Jalston Fowler.
Alabama returns just two full-time offensive starters from last year.
While Kiffin may be strictly focused on his current role, a good season from a rebuilt Tide offense could again make him a hot name for teams in need of a head coach.
Kiffin was reportedly a "front-runner" for the San Francisco 49ers' offensive coordinator opening following last season before reiterating his intent to return to Alabama.
"I made a comment at the Sugar Bowl that I would be back this fall at Alabama, and that is definitely the plan," Kiffin said in a statement in January. "This time of year, there are lots of things out there regarding other coaching opportunities, but I want to reaffirm my commitment to the University of Alabama, coach Saban and our team. I'm excited about what our offensive staff was able to accomplish last year, but I also think there are a lot of things we can do a better job of in terms of putting our players in the best situation to have success.
"After being here for a year, I can see why this is such a special place in terms of the history, tradition, and how much football means to everyone at Alabama. I also have learned so much in the time I've spent with coach Saban and really have a better understanding of what makes him the great coach that he is. I think the more time I can spend learning from him, the better coach I will be in the future."
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Lane Kiffin and father Monte Kiffin both had laptops in front of them, an informal film session inside the elder Kiffin's Tampa home this summer.
Father and son watched offensive game film from multiple Alabama games last season, including the Tide's Sugar Bowl loss to Ohio State. The two coaches shared observations, asked each other questions and just "talked ball," Monte said.
Their conversations during Lane's 10-day visit to Tampa ranged from football to fishing to Lane's children.
What never came up ā and rarely does, Monte said ā is what lies ahead for his son beyond Alabama after collectively unsuccessful head coaching stints with the Oakland Raiders, Tennessee and USC.
"He doesn't talk about it a whole lot," Monte Kiffin, the respected longtime NFL coach and defensive coordinator, told AL.com. "He just wants to take it one year at a time, and that's what you should do."
Lane Kiffin is entering his second season as Alabama's offensive coordinator after being hired last January.
Multiple teams reached out to Kiffin regarding coaching opportunities following last season, Monte said. He wasn't interested.
Kiffin's focus is solely on Alabama, his father said.
"I can tell you for sure he's not thinking about the next head job," Monte said. "He's gotten some interest, but I don't think Lane was all excited about going because he wants to get his feet on the ground again."
'It's turned out to be a good fit'
Kiffin's union with the Tide has been beneficial for both sides.
In his first season as Alabama's offensive coordinator, Kiffin helped Alabama rank third in the SEC in total and scoring offense while proving instrumental in the development of first-year starting quarterback Blake Sims.
Under the guidance of Kiffin, Sims threw for 3,487 yards and 28 touchdowns with just 10 interceptions while leading the team to an SEC championship and a berth in the College Football Playoff after an underwhelming spring.
For the now 40-year old Kiffin, this is a chance to rebuild the reputation that was so strong when he was considered one of the rising stars in coaching less than 10 years ago as an assistant coach, passing game coordinator and co-offensive coordinator during the Matt Leinart/Reggie Bush era at USC.
Working under Alabama coach Nick Saban, Kiffin was a finalist last season for the Broyles Award, presented annually to the top assistant in college football.
"He was out of a job, and it's not like people were knocking the door down just because Lane had just gotten fired as a head coach and this and that, so do we really want to hire him as an offensive coordinator? Because some guys will want to come in and still want to be the head coach or whatever," Monte said of Lane, who had been out of work since being fired during his fourth season as the head coach at USC prior to being hired by Alabama. "I'm sure Nick had to give it some thought. But from Lane's standpoint, I think he was really excited the day that Nick Saban called and offered him the job. No doubt about it.
"And I think it's turned out to be a good fit because Nick's a hard-nosed coach. He's kind of old-school. When he hires a coordinator or position coach, he wants to do it his way, and I think he and Lane actually hit it off pretty well. ...
"I do know this, Lane's a real detailed guy on offense. You don't just go out and do this and do that. You have to be detailed at whatever you do, and that's what Nick is. He's big on the details. He's tough on the players. He's very disciplined. And Lane may not come off quite the same as Nick. But down deep as far as philosophy, Lane and Saban aren't that far apart as far as doing it the right way."
Continuing to evolve
Widely considered one of the top offensive minds in the country, Kiffin is growing as a coach under Saban, who has won three national championships since being hired by Alabama in 2007.
"Lane talks a lot about Saban's organization," Monte said, "and also about how important it is to be on the details."
Kiffin has also spent time this offseason attempting to learn more about attacking opposing defenses.
Several years ago, a younger Kiffin ā then at USC ā attended Tampa Bay Buccaneers offseason practices and sat in on quarterback meetings run by then-coach Jon Gruden.
"He picked up a lot from Jon Gruden," said Monte, who was the Buccaneers' defensive coordinator from 1996-2008. "He will tell you that to this day that a lot of the offense that they put in at USC ā of course Pete Carroll had to OK a lot ā was a lot of Jon Gruden. Jon Gruden had a lot to do with his play-calling and how to set up an offense."
This offseason, Kiffin met with and talked offense with new Houston coach Tom Herman, last year's Broyles Award winner while at Ohio State and the offensive coordinator of the Buckeyes' offense that racked up 537 yards in a 42-35 Sugar Bowl win over the Tide in January.
Challenging road ahead
Kiffin's ability as a coach and play-caller will be tested this season.
Alabama will have another first-year starting quarterback. Heisman Trophy finalistAmari Cooper is gone. So is standout running back T.J. Yeldon. The Tide are also replacing three starting offensive linemen as well as other key players such as wide receiver DeAndrew White and versatile fullback Jalston Fowler.
Alabama returns just two full-time offensive starters from last year.
While Kiffin may be strictly focused on his current role, a good season from a rebuilt Tide offense could again make him a hot name for teams in need of a head coach.
Kiffin was reportedly a "front-runner" for the San Francisco 49ers' offensive coordinator opening following last season before reiterating his intent to return to Alabama.
"I made a comment at the Sugar Bowl that I would be back this fall at Alabama, and that is definitely the plan," Kiffin said in a statement in January. "This time of year, there are lots of things out there regarding other coaching opportunities, but I want to reaffirm my commitment to the University of Alabama, coach Saban and our team. I'm excited about what our offensive staff was able to accomplish last year, but I also think there are a lot of things we can do a better job of in terms of putting our players in the best situation to have success.
"After being here for a year, I can see why this is such a special place in terms of the history, tradition, and how much football means to everyone at Alabama. I also have learned so much in the time I've spent with coach Saban and really have a better understanding of what makes him the great coach that he is. I think the more time I can spend learning from him, the better coach I will be in the future."
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