Recently, Lane Kiffin was identified as a potential candidate for NFL offensive coordinator jobs in the offseason. It turns out that he will not be available for interested teams. Kiffin has signed on as Florida Atlantic University’s new head coach, according to Brett McMurphy and Chris Low of ESPN (on Twitter). 
Kiffin, who has reestablished himself as an offensive guru after some terrific work with Alabama, was rumored to be the new head coach at Houston. However, UH went in a different direction and hired Major Applewhite. Kiffin conceivably could have stepped back into the professional ranks, but for now he’ll stick with college ball.
As the head coach of the Raiders, Kiffin went 5-15 before he was fired midway through the 2008 season. Still just 41, Kiffin may look to return to the NFL someday for redemption. For now, he’ll try and reignite FAU after a disappointing 3-9 season.
Is this the curious case of Benjamin Button? He is going backwards…. College HC at major programs, a Pro HC, then OC at the best team in college football to HC at FAU? He’s going to have to compete with the likes of Miami, FSU, and Florida for recruits? I hope he got a boat load of money
Ya- should’ve waited till next season for better openings. Even tho there’s word Saban
He hasn’t really done much as head coach, at any level, so I can see why major programs/pro teams wouldn’t hire him as a head coach. However, plenty of coordinators looking for a head coaching spot often have to go lower than where they were to get a spot. Obviously the difference between Alabama and FAU is sizable, but as far as I know, there weren’t any other major program head coach openings (at least not currently) so its either wait for one to maybe open up (and possible spend another year in Alabama) or take a chance on FAU. If he succeeds at FAU (big IF), it’ll look a lot better than him staying on as the OC at the best team in the country (considering you could probably plug any guy as the OC and the team will be fine) or waiting another year or two to take another big program back to relevancy.
Not only has he not succeeded, he left dumpster fires at USC and Tennessee when he left. I think he would have been better off staying the OC at Alabama and try to be the coach in waiting for whenever Saban retires. I’m sure he would still get paid well.
Cooper Bateman or David Cornwell (or both) will probably transfer to FAU now. Already know the offense since Kiffin was OC when both were at Alabama. Bateman could play next season, Cornwell sit out one year for transfer rules and then take over the next season.
Also look for a possible Max Browne transfer from USC … Already leaving and immediately eligible … Highly recruited by Kiffin while at USC …. With Kiffin leaving, does this mean Sarkesian (already on staff with Alabama) will be the Tide OC?