After coming up short in the coaching search at Houston, Lane Kiffin may have another gig in store.
Kiffin is in talks with Florida Atlantic about becoming the next head coach of the Owls, Football Scoop reported Friday. The AP’s Tim Reynolds also confirmed that FAU is pursuing Kiffin:
Can confirm reports out there. Two sources tell AP that FAU is pursuing Lane Kiffin to become the Owls' next football coach.
— Tim Reynolds (@ByTimReynolds) December 9, 2016
Many view taking the Florida Atlantic job as a major step downward for Kiffin, but that might be all that is available to him in the head coaching realm.
Kiffin became the head coach of the Raiders in 2007 — making him the youngest NFL head coach in the modern era. He was fired early in his second season, but then got the Tennessee job. He left the Vols after one season when USC came calling, but he was dumped by the Trojans in the middle of his fourth year on the job.
Kiffin’s once lofty stock had plummeted following the three unsuccessful runs as a head coach, so he went to Alabama and rebuilt his name as the offensive coordinator for the Crimson Tide. He has helped the Tide reach the College Football Playoff three times with three different quarterbacks. They are seeking to become back-to-back champions.
Kiffin, 41, wants to become a head coach again, which is something Nick Saban endorses. Kiffin reportedly thought he had the Houston job, but it was given to Major Applewhite instead. Now Kiffin is talking with a program that started in 2001 and has only enjoyed two winning seasons. The Owls just fired Charlie Partridge after consecutive 3-9 seasons.
There are some questions about how much FAU could pay Kiffin, but the current Bama offensive coordinator may be more concerned with the opportunity. If Kiffin can turn the Owls into a winner, it could get the attention of other major programs that are too fearful to take a chance on him.
