It was doomed from the begin.
Long before Lane Kiffin’s dramatic Ole Miss exit Sunday for LSU, the 50-year-old coach was also courted by Florida, an ill-fated pursuit that started with an preliminary dialog with athletic director Scott Stricklin, which, according to a CBS Sports report printed Monday, “did not go well.”
“At the time, Florida was the biggest job available and had the leverage to dictate some of its terms. That included wanting a general manager with an NFL background who wouldn’t report directly to Kiffin,” the report acknowledged, citing sources with intel on Kiffin’s notion of the dialog.
Lane Kiffin had been courted by Florida before he linked up with LSU. Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
Florida athletic director Scott Stricklin AP
“This was a non-starter for Kiffin, who strongly believes in the abilities of Ole Miss general manager Billy Glasscock, and it got the weeks-long pursuit off to an awkward start from Kiffin’s perspective.”
Kiffin, who had lengthy eyed the Florida job, has ties to the college. His ex-wife, Layla, went to Florida, the same establishment her father, famed Gators QB John Reaves, performed for. Kiffin also has sported a visor in honor of former Florida coach Steve Spurrier.
Stricklin, thought-about to have a “more button-up personality” in distinction to Kiffin’s “penchant for stirring up drama,” started assessing the Rebels coach before the Oct. 19 firing of Billy Napier, according to the report.
Although Stricklin was “comfortable” persevering with the course of with Kiffin after gauging these in the coach’s circle about his maturation, the underlying challenge remained: “Kiffin was well aware that he wasn’t Stricklin’s cup of tea, and the feeling was mutual.”
Lane Kiffin touched down in Baton Rouge on Nov. 30, 2025, after asserting his intentions to coach at LSU. AP
Kiffin, who had guided the Rebels since 2020, had a nice deal of authority at Ole Miss and anxious a character conflict was inevitable.
“Ole Miss all but allowed him to do whatever he wanted in Oxford and kept giving him more and more resources to push the program forward,” the report acknowledged. “… Kiffin was concerned about Stricklin’s meddling and how they would mesh, later telling confidants he had a ‘weird vibe’ about the situation.”
LSU would enter the image a quick while later with the Oct. 26 firing of Brian Kelly, a transfer that ignited an onslaught of teaching rumors before this weekend’s decision.
Florida formally took itself out of the Kiffin sweepstakes Friday and pivoted to Tulane’s Jon Sumrall, with the events making issues official Sunday.
The Gators also set their sights on former Jaguars GM David Caldwell to serve the same submit in the program.
As for Kiffin, his turbulent departure from Oxford to Baton Rouge unfolded over a multi-day span following what would be his remaining sport with the Rebels, Friday’s 38-19 Egg Bowl win over Mississippi State.
“After a lot of prayer and time spent with family, I made the difficult decision to accept the head coaching position at LSU,” Kiffin wrote in a assertion shared on X.
“… While I am looking forward to a new start with a unique opportunity at LSU, I will forever cherish the incredible six years I spent at Ole Miss and will be rooting hard for the team to complete their mission and bring a championship to Oxford.”
Former defensive coordinator Pete Golding was elevated to everlasting head coach in Kiffin’s place.
Kiffin is expected to make $91 million across seven years at LSU, according to Nola.com. which famous the deal boasts performance-based bonuses.
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