History of Lane Kiffin in Timeline

Lane Kiffin is an American football coach with a notable career. He's held head coaching positions at various levels, including the Oakland Raiders (NFL), University of Tennessee, USC, Florida Atlantic, and Ole Miss. Known for his offensive play-calling and sometimes controversial personality, Kiffin's career has been marked by both successes and challenges. As of 2024 he has become the head coach at LSU, hoping to continue success there.

Sections (5)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals

1946: Start of Modern NFL Era

The year 1946 marks the beginning of the modern NFL era.

1964: Last Time a Pre-Season Ranked #1 Team Finished Unranked Before 2012

Prior to 2012, the last time a team that was the pre-season ranked #1 finished the season unranked was the 1964 Ole Miss Rebels.

1969: John Madden Elevated to Head Coach

In 1969, John Madden was elevated to head coach by Al Davis at age 32.

1970: AFL-NFL Merger

In 1970, the AFL and NFL merged.

May 9, 1975: Lane Kiffin Born

Lane Monte Kiffin was born on May 9, 1975. He is an American football coach.

Others born on this day/year

1994: Graduation from Bloomington Jefferson High School

In 1994, Lane Kiffin graduated from Bloomington Jefferson High School in Minnesota and committed to play football at Fresno State University.

1998: Graduation from Fresno State

In 1998, Lane Kiffin graduated from Fresno State University.

1999: Graduate Assistant at Colorado State

In 1999, Lane Kiffin worked as a graduate assistant at Colorado State University and the Rams played in the Liberty Bowl.

2001: Joins USC Staff

In 2001, Lane Kiffin began working with the University of Southern California (USC) staff.

2002: USC Wide Receivers Coach

Prior to the 2002 season, Lane Kiffin became the wide receivers coach at USC.

2003: USC Retains 2003 AP National Championship

In 2011, USC retains the 2003 AP National Championship.

2004: USC Passing Game Coordinator

For the 2004 season, Lane Kiffin added the duties of passing game coordinator at USC.

2004: USC Stripped of 2004 Title

In 2011, The BCS stripped USC of the 2004 title, though USC still retains the 2003 and 2004 AP National Championships.

2005: USC Wins Vacated

In 2005, Lane Kiffin helped guide USC to vacated wins, due to NCAA violations.

2005: Offensive Coordinator and Recruiting Coordinator at USC

In 2005, Lane Kiffin was promoted to offensive coordinator and recruiting coordinator at USC, also continuing as wide receivers coach.

2005: USC Wins BCS National Championship

In 2005, the USC Trojans, with Reggie Bush, won the BCS National Championship. However, the NCAA later vacated this win due to Bush's ineligibility.

2005: Offensive Success at USC

In the 2005 season, USC had two thousand-yard receivers, a thousand-yard rusher, and a 3,000-yard passer. Kiffin was the offensive coordinator.

2006: Passing Efficiency Leader

In 2006, under Kiffin's guidance, the USC Trojans finished first in the Pac-10 in passing efficiency.

January 23, 2007: Hired as Head Coach of the Oakland Raiders

On January 23, 2007, Lane Kiffin was hired by the Oakland Raiders as their head coach, becoming the youngest head coach in modern NFL history.

August 12, 2007: Raiders Win Preseason Opener

On August 12, 2007, Lane Kiffin and the Oakland Raiders won their preseason opener against the Arizona Cardinals.

September 23, 2007: First Regular Season Win

On September 23, 2007, Lane Kiffin recorded his first regular season win as an NFL head coach when the Raiders defeated the Cleveland Browns.

2007: Head Coach of the Oakland Raiders

In 2007, Lane Kiffin became the head coach of the Oakland Raiders.

January 25, 2008: Report of Davis Attempting to Force Resignation

On January 25, 2008, ESPN NFL analyst Chris Mortensen reported that Al Davis tried to force Lane Kiffin to resign after his first season ended with a 4-12 record.

September 15, 2008: Report of Davis Unhappiness with Kiffin

On September 15, 2008, NBC Sports reported that Al Davis was unhappy with Lane Kiffin and intended to fire him.

September 30, 2008: Kiffin Fired by Raiders

On September 30, 2008, Lane Kiffin was fired by Al Davis over the telephone.

November 28, 2008: Reports of Kiffin as Head Coach for Tennessee

On November 28, 2008, multiple media outlets reported that Lane Kiffin would be the next head football coach for the University of Tennessee Volunteers.

November 30, 2008: Kiffin Signs Memorandum of Understanding with Tennessee

On November 30, 2008, Lane Kiffin signed a memorandum of understanding with the University of Tennessee, including a $2 million salary in 2009.

December 1, 2008: Kiffin Introduced as Tennessee Head Coach

On December 1, 2008, Lane Kiffin was formally introduced as the head football coach for the University of Tennessee Volunteers.

December 15, 2008: Cable Lashes Out at Kiffin

On December 15, 2008, Raiders head coach Tom Cable lashed out at Lane Kiffin for hiring one of his assistants with two weeks remaining in the NFL season.

2008: Last Winning Season for FAU Before Kiffin's Arrival

2008 was the last season over .500 for the FAU Owls since 2008, prior to Kiffin achieving an 11-3 record in his first year.

2008: Plans for Offseason Changes

At his end-of-the-season press conference in 2008, Lane Kiffin told the media and his players that he had many plans and changes he was going to make in the 2008 offseason.

2008: Oakland Raiders Head Coach

In 2008, Lane Kiffin continued his role as head coach of the Oakland Raiders.

2008: Previous Tennessee Volunteers record

In 2008, the Tennessee Volunteers had a 5-7 record.

February 4, 2009: Tom Cable Named Raiders Head Coach

On February 4, 2009, Tom Cable was made the permanent head coach of the Oakland Raiders.

February 5, 2009: Accusations Against Urban Meyer

On February 5, 2009, Lane Kiffin accused Urban Meyer of violating NCAA recruiting rules.

2009: Head Coach at University of Tennessee

In 2009, Lane Kiffin became the head coach at the University of Tennessee.

2009: Head Football Coach for the University of Tennessee Volunteers

In 2009, Lane Kiffin began his tenure as the head football coach for the University of Tennessee Volunteers.

2009: Coaching Record at Tennessee

In 2009, Lane Kiffin led the Tennessee Volunteers to a 7-6 record.

2009: Team Option Year

In 2009, the Oakland Raiders had a team option for Lane Kiffin's contract.

January 12, 2010: Returns to USC as Head Coach

On January 12, 2010, Lane Kiffin returned to USC to become the Trojans' head coach.

June 2010: NCAA Imposes Sanctions Against USC

In June 2010, the NCAA imposed sanctions against the USC Trojan football program for a "lack of institutional control" following an investigation into Reggie Bush's eligibility. The sanctions included a two-year postseason ban, the loss of 30 scholarships over three years, and the vacating of wins in which Bush participated as an "ineligible" player.

June 2010: NCAA Declares Reggie Bush Ineligible

In June 2010, the NCAA retroactively declared Reggie Bush ineligible for the entire 2005 season, forcing USC to vacate all of its 2005 wins.

November 15, 2010: Arbitrator Rules Davis Had Cause to Fire Kiffin

On November 15, 2010, an arbitrator ruled that Al Davis did indeed have cause to fire Lane Kiffin.

2010: Leaves Tennessee for USC

During the 2010 recruiting season, Lane Kiffin left the Tennessee Volunteers to accept the head coaching job at the University of Southern California.

2010: Head Coach at USC

In 2010, Lane Kiffin became the head coach at USC.

2010: Buyout Clause

In 2010, Lane Kiffin's contract with the University of Tennessee included a buyout clause of $7.5 million.

2010: Kiffin's First Season at USC

In 2010, Lane Kiffin's first season at USC, the team finished with an 8–5 record but was ineligible for post-season play due to NCAA sanctions. Several players transferred due to a new NCAA guideline, and USC played with a reduced number of scholarship players.

2010: Student Riots at Tennessee

In 2010, hundreds of students rioted on campus at the University of Tennessee following the news of Lane Kiffin's departure for USC.

May 26, 2011: NCAA Upholds Sanctions Against USC

On May 26, 2011, the NCAA's Appeals Committee upheld the sanctions against USC, preventing the football team from participating in the Pac-12 Football Championship Game and a bowl game during the 2011-12 season.

October 2011: Kiffin's Statement Following Al Davis's Death

In October 2011, despite previous animosity, Lane Kiffin released a statement following Al Davis's death expressing respect for the late Raiders owner.

2012: Buyout Clause Decreased

After the 2012 season, Lane Kiffin's buyout clause decreased to $5 million.

2012: Alshon Jeffery Drafted

In 2012, Alshon Jeffery was the 45th pick in the NFL draft.

2012: Kiffin Resigns from Coaches' Poll Voting

In 2012, Kiffin resigned from the USA Today Coaches' Poll after one vote due to controversy over his preseason selection of USC as No. 1. The Trojans finished the season with a 7-6 record and were unranked after starting the season at #1.

September 28, 2013: Kiffin Fired by USC

On September 28, 2013, after a 62-41 loss to Arizona State, USC Athletics Director Pat Haden fired Lane Kiffin hours after the game. The dismissal occurred at Los Angeles International Airport. Ed Orgeron took over as interim coach.

December 2013: Kiffin Reviews Alabama Crimson Tide Offense

In December 2013, Lane Kiffin spent eight days in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, reviewing the Alabama Crimson Tide football team's offense.

2013: Continued as Head Coach at USC

In 2013, Lane Kiffin continued his tenure as the head coach at USC.

January 9, 2014: Kiffin Interviewed for Alabama Offensive Coordinator Job

On January 9, 2014, Lane Kiffin interviewed for the vacant offensive coordinator job at Alabama after Michigan hired Doug Nussmeier.

2014: Offensive Coordinator at Alabama

In 2014, Lane Kiffin became the offensive coordinator at the University of Alabama.

2014: Kiffin a Finalist for the Broyles Award

In 2014, Lane Kiffin was a finalist for the Broyles Award, given annually to the nation's top college football assistant coach.

2014: Salary with University of Tennessee

In 2014, Lane Kiffin was scheduled to make a high of $2.75 million with the University of Tennessee.

February 28, 2016: Lane and Layla Kiffin Announce Divorce

On February 28, 2016, Lane Kiffin and his wife Layla Reaves announced that they would divorce.

December 12, 2016: Kiffin Accepts Head Coaching Position at Florida Atlantic University

On December 12, 2016, Lane Kiffin accepted the head coaching position at Florida Atlantic University (FAU).

2016: Offensive Coordinator at Alabama

In 2016, Lane Kiffin remained the offensive coordinator at the University of Alabama before being hired by Florida Atlantic.

January 2, 2017: Kiffin Relieved of Duties as Alabama OC

On January 2, 2017, Lane Kiffin was relieved of his duties as Alabama's Offensive Coordinator. Steve Sarkisian replaced him for the 2017 College Football Playoff National Championship.

December 19, 2017: FAU Wins Boca Raton Bowl

On December 19, 2017, Kiffin led the FAU Owls to a 50-3 victory over Akron in the Boca Raton Bowl, finishing the season 11-3.

2017: Head Coach at Florida Atlantic

In 2017, Lane Kiffin took on the role of head coach at Florida Atlantic.

December 6, 2019: Kiffin Close to Accepting Ole Miss Head Coaching Position

On December 6, 2019, it was reported that Lane Kiffin was close to accepting the head coaching position at Ole Miss.

2019: Kiffin Leads FAU to Second C-USA Championship

In 2019, Kiffin led FAU to a 10-win season and a second C-USA championship.

2019: Head Coach at Florida Atlantic

In 2019, Lane Kiffin served as the head coach at Florida Atlantic.

2019: Head Coach at Ole Miss

In 2019, Lane Kiffin transitioned from head coach at Florida Atlantic to head coach at Ole Miss.

2020: Head Coach at Ole Miss

In 2020, Lane Kiffin became the head coach at Ole Miss.

2020: Kiffin's First Season at Ole Miss

In the 2020 season, Kiffin won his first game at Ole Miss against Kentucky. Ole Miss finished 5-5 and received an invitation to the 2021 Outback Bowl.

July 2021: Todd McNair Defamation Suit Settled

In July 2021, the defamation suit from former coach Todd McNair to fight his defamation and to overturn those vacancies was settled through mediation, though the wins remained vacated.

August 2021: Kiffin's New Contract Details Released

In August 2021, Lane Kiffin's new contract details with Ole Miss were released, amounting to $21 million in base pay through 2024.

2021: Ole Miss Becomes First 100% Vaccinated NCAA Football Team

Prior to the 2021 season, Lane Kiffin led Ole Miss to become the first NCAA football team 100% vaccinated against COVID-19. Kiffin also tested positive for COVID-19 before the season opener. The Rebels finished the regular season 10-2.

2022: Ole Miss Rebels Record in 2022 Season

In the 2022 season, the Ole Miss Rebels had a record of 8-5.

2023: Ole Miss Rebels Record in 2023 Season

In the 2023 season, the Ole Miss Rebels rebounded strongly to finish 11–2, marking the first 11-win season in school history, with a victory in the Peach Bowl.

2024: Kiffin Discusses Sobriety

In 2024, Lane Kiffin stated that he had been sober and abstinent from alcohol for three and a half years.

2024: Kiffin's Contract Term

In August 2021, Kiffin's new contract details with Ole Miss were released, amounting to $21 million in base pay through 2024.

2024: Ole Miss Rebels Record in 2024 Season

In the 2024 season, Kiffin led the Rebels to a 9–3 record, and defeated Duke 52-20 in the Gator Bowl to finish the season 10–3. Jaxson Dart set the Ole Miss single-season passing yards record.

November 22, 2025: Announcement on Kiffin's Future Expected

On November 22, 2025, Ole Miss Athletic Director Keith Carter confirmed that an announcement on Coach Kiffin's future was expected on November 29. It was reported that LSU was finalizing an offer that would make Kiffin one of the highest-paid college football coaches.

November 30, 2025: Kiffin to Meet with Team

On November 30, 2025, Kiffin was to meet with the team, but the meeting was postponed due to staff retention issues. Defensive coordinator Pete Golding took over as head coach for the playoffs.

2025: Head Coach at LSU

In 2025, Lane Kiffin left his position prior to playoffs at Ole Miss to become the head coach at LSU.

2025: Ole Miss Achieves an 11-Win Regular Season

In the 2025 season, Kiffin led the Rebels to an 11-win regular season for the first time in school history, with victories over #4 LSU and #11 Oklahoma.