History of Lane Kiffin in Timeline

Lane Kiffin is an American football coach currently serving as the head coach at Ole Miss. He has a notable career, including assistant coaching roles at USC from 2001-2006. Kiffin transitioned to head coaching positions, leading the Oakland Raiders (2007-2008), the University of Tennessee (2009), and USC again from 2010-2013. His career has been marked by both success and controversy, but he remains a prominent figure in college football.

Sections (5)

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

1946: Youngest Head Coach in Modern NFL History

Age 31 at the time of his hiring by the Raiders (32 when he coached his first game), Kiffin became the youngest head coach in modern NFL history since 1946.

1963: USC Finishes Season Unranked

Prior to 2012, the last time a team that was the pre-season ranked #1 finished the season unranked was USC in 1963.

1969: John Madden becomes Raiders coach

In 1969, John Madden, at 32 years old, was elevated to the head coach position by Al Davis.

1970: Since the AFL-NFL merger

Since the AFL-NFL merger in 1970, Kiffin surpassed the New York Jets' Eric Mangini and the Pittsburgh Steelers' Mike Tomlin as the youngest head coach.

May 9, 1975: Lane Kiffin's Birth

On May 9, 1975, Lane Monte Kiffin was born. He is now an American football coach and currently the head coach at Ole Miss.

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 Fresno State University to play college football.

1998: Graduation from Fresno State

In 1998, Lane Kiffin graduated from Fresno State University.

1999: Graduate Assistant at Colorado State University

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

2001: Assistant Coaching Position at USC

In 2001, Lane Kiffin began his tenure at the University of Southern California as an assistant coach.

2001: USC Staff Member

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 for the University of Southern California (USC).

2003: USC Retains 2003 AP National Championship

In 2003, despite later sanctions, USC still retained the 2003 AP National Championship.

2004: Passing Game Coordinator

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

2004: BCS Stripped USC of 2004 Title

In 2004, the BCS stripped USC of its title, though USC still retained the 2003 and 2004 AP National Championships.

2005: Offensive Coordinator at USC

In 2005, Lane Kiffin was promoted to offensive coordinator at USC, along with Steve Sarkisian. The 2005 USC offense broke numerous school records.

2005: USC Wins BCS National Championship

In 2005, the USC Trojans won the BCS National Championship, a victory that was later vacated due to NCAA sanctions related to Reggie Bush's eligibility.

2005: Bush Ineligible, Wins Vacated

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

2006: End of USC Assistant Coaching Positions

In 2006, Lane Kiffin concluded his time as an assistant coach at the University of Southern California.

2006: Trojans finished first in the Pac-10 in passing efficiency

In 2006, the Trojans finished first in the Pac-10 in passing efficiency by averaging 142.8 passer rating, produced two, 1,000-yard receivers – Dwayne Jarrett (1,105) and Steve Smith (1,083) – and a 3,000-yard passer John David Booty, with 3,347 yards. The team produced top 20 statistics in most NCAA offensive categories and concluded with a 32–18 win over the then #3 ranked team the University of Michigan in the Rose Bowl.

January 23, 2007: Hired by the Oakland Raiders

On January 23, 2007, Al Davis hired Lane Kiffin as the head coach for the Oakland Raiders. At 31 years old, he became the youngest head coach in Raiders history.

August 12, 2007: First NFL Head Coaching Debut

On August 12, 2007, in his NFL head coaching debut, Lane Kiffin and the Raiders won their preseason opener 27–23 over 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 26-24.

2007: Head Coach of the Oakland Raiders

In 2007, Lane Kiffin became the head coach of the Oakland Raiders in the National Football League (NFL).

January 25, 2008: Report of Davis Trying to Force Kiffin to Resign

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. Kiffin refused to comment.

September 15, 2008: Report of Davis Unhappy 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. Davis called Kiffin "a flat-out liar" and said he was guilty of "bringing disgrace to the organization."

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: Memorandum of Understanding with Tennessee

On November 30, 2008, Lane Kiffin signed a memorandum of understanding with the University of Tennessee.

December 1, 2008: Introduction as Tennessee Head Coach

On December 1, 2008, Lane Kiffin was formally introduced as the 21st head football coach of 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, James Cregg, with two weeks remaining in the NFL season.

2008: Previous Winning Season for FAU Owls

2008 was the last season over .500 for the FAU Owls since then. In 2017, Kiffin improved the season to 11-3.

2008: Kiffin's Plans for Offseason

At the end of the 2007 season, 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: Raiders Head Coach

In 2008, Lane Kiffin was still head coach of the Oakland Raiders.

2008: Volunteers Record

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

February 4, 2009: Cable Made Permanent Head Coach

On February 4, 2009, Tom Cable, who was given interim head coaching duties after Kiffin's firing, was made the permanent head coach of the Raiders.

February 5, 2009: Accusations Against Urban Meyer

On February 5, 2009, during a Tennessee booster breakfast, 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: Tennessee Volunteers Record

In 2009, Lane Kiffin led the Tennessee Volunteers to a 7–6 record, an improvement from their 5–7 record in 2008. Losses included a blow-out loss to Virginia Tech in the Chick-fil-A Bowl.

2009: Head Coach at Tennessee

In 2009, Lane Kiffin was the head football coach for the University of Tennessee Volunteers.

2009: Salary and Bonuses

In 2009, Lane Kiffin's deal with the University of Tennessee included $2 million in salary, with additional performance bonuses.

2009: Team Option

In 2009, the Raiders had a team option for Lane Kiffin.

January 12, 2010: Kiffin Returns to USC as Head Coach

On January 12, 2010, Lane Kiffin returned to USC to become the Trojans' head coach following Pete Carroll's departure.

June 2010: NCAA Sanctions Against USC

In June 2010, the NCAA imposed sanctions against the USC football program due to a "lack of institutional control" following an investigation into Reggie Bush's acceptance of financial benefits. The sanctions included a two-year postseason ban, the loss of 30 scholarships, and the vacating of wins in which Bush played, including the 2005 Orange Bowl.

June 2010: NCAA Declares Bush Ineligible

In June 2010, the NCAA retroactively declared Reggie Bush ineligible for the entire 2005 season, and forced 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 in 2008.

2010: Kiffin Leaves Tennessee for USC

During the 2010 recruiting season, Lane Kiffin left the Volunteers after one season as coach to accept the head coaching job at the University of Southern California after Carroll left for the Seattle Seahawks.

2010: Buyout Clause

If Kiffin had been fired in 2009 or 2010, the school would have to pay him $7.5 million under a buyout clause.

2010: Head Coach at USC

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

2010: Riots at Tennessee

In 2010, Lane Kiffin's departure for USC after just one season as head coach of the Volunteers upset many students and fans of the University of Tennessee, leading to riots on campus.

2010: First Season at USC and NCAA Sanctions

In 2010, Lane Kiffin's first season at USC, the Trojans finished with an 8–5 record but were ineligible for post-season play due to NCAA sanctions. Several players transferred due to an NCAA exception, and USC played with only 71 scholarship players.

May 26, 2011: NCAA Sanctions Upheld 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 or a bowl game during the 2011–12 season.

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

In October 2011, despite their past animosity, Lane Kiffin released a statement following Al Davis's death expressing appreciation for the opportunity Davis had given him and respect for the late Raiders owner.

2012: Decreased Buyout Clause

After the 2012 season, the buyout clause in Lane Kiffin's contract with the University of Tennessee decreased to $5 million. However, Kiffin was no longer with Tennessee at that time.

2012: Alshon Jeffery Drafted

In 2012, Alshon Jeffery, who Lane Kiffin allegedly told that he would end up pumping gas if he went to South Carolina, was drafted into the NFL by the Chicago Bears.

2012: Controversy over USA Today Coaches' Poll

In 2012, Kiffin became a voting member of the USA Today Coaches' Poll but resigned after one vote due to controversy over his preseason selection of USC as No. 1. The Trojans finished the season unranked after starting as the top team.

September 28, 2013: Kiffin Fired as USC Head Coach

On September 28, 2013, Lane Kiffin was fired as USC's head coach after a 62–41 loss to Arizona State. He was dismissed by Athletics Director Pat Haden at Los Angeles International Airport. Ed Orgeron took over as interim coach.

December 2013: Kiffin Reviews Alabama's Offense

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

2013: End of USC Head Coaching

In 2013, Lane Kiffin concluded his time as the head coach at USC.

January 9, 2014: Kiffin Interviews for Alabama Coordinator Job

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

2014: Broyles Award Finalist

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

2014: Offensive Coordinator at Alabama

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

2014: Salary Increase to $2.75 million

In 2014, Lane Kiffin's salary was set to increase to $2.75 million as part of his six-year deal with the University of Tennessee, but he was no longer coaching at Tennessee at that time.

February 28, 2016: Lane and Layla Kiffin Announce Divorce

On February 28, 2016, Lane and Layla Kiffin announced that they were separating and had mutually decided to divorce.

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

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

2016: Hired as Head Coach at Florida Atlantic

In 2016, Lane Kiffin was hired to be the head coach at Florida Atlantic.

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

On January 2, 2017, Lane Kiffin, after accepting the head coaching job at Florida Atlantic, was relieved of his duties as Alabama 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, culminating in an 11–3 season in his first year.

2017: Sean McVay Youngest NFL Coach

In 2017, Sean McVay became the youngest head coach in modern NFL history, surpassing Lane Kiffin's record when he joined the Rams.

December 6, 2019: Reports of Kiffin Accepting Ole Miss Head Coaching Position

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

December 2019: Head Coach at Ole Miss

In December 2019, Lane Kiffin became the head coach at Ole Miss.

2019: FAU Wins C-USA Championship

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

2020: First Season at Ole Miss

In Kiffin's first season 2020 at Ole Miss, the team finished 5–5 with a 4–5 record in the SEC, leading to a 2021 Outback Bowl invitation.

July 2021: Defamation Suit Settled

In July 2021, the defamation suit from former coach Todd McNair was settled through mediation. However, the vacated wins from 2005 remained.

August 2021: New Contract Details Released for Kiffin at Ole Miss

In August 2021, new contract details were released for Kiffin at Ole Miss, amounting to $21 million in base pay through 2024, with $4.5 million paid out in 2021 and over $5 million in each of the remaining three seasons.

2021: Ole Miss Achieves 100% COVID-19 Vaccination Rate

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

2022: Ole Miss Record

In 2022, the Rebels had a record of 8-5 under Kiffin's coaching.

2023: Ole Miss Record and Peach Bowl Victory

In 2023, Ole Miss finished with an 11–2 record and a victory in the Peach Bowl, marking the first 11-win season in school history.

2024: Kiffin Talks About Being Sober

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

2024: Ole Miss Season Record and Gator Bowl Win

In the 2024 season, Kiffin led Ole Miss to a 9–3 record, with an upset victory over #2 Georgia. They defeated Duke in the Gator Bowl 52–20, finishing the season 10–3. Jaxson Dart became the winningest quarterback in program history.

2024: Kiffin's contract with Ole Miss

Kiffin's four-year contract totaled $16.2 million and would pay him $3.9 million in 2020 with a $100,000 yearly increment thereafter. In 2024, Kiffin's contract with Ole Miss expires.

November 17, 2025: Ultimatum from Ole Miss Regarding Kiffin's Future

On November 17, 2025, it was reported that Ole Miss gave Kiffin an ultimatum to decide on his future before the season finale against Mississippi State after reports that his family had visited Gainesville and Baton Rouge.