LSU coach Lane Kiffin vowed on Monday to make his new team “the best program in all of college football” after walking away from playoff-bound Ole Miss.
Kiffin said that he tried hard to convince Ole Miss officials to let him coach the Rebels in the postseason, but the school wouldn’t let him stay on the job once he committed to LSU, a move that has led to widespread criticism of Kiffin.
“That was … excruciating and difficult,” Kiffin said at his introductory press conference. “We tried every possible thing [in negotiations] for a long time the other night and into the morning … We presented a plan [to stay through the College Football Playoff]. At the end of the day, that’s their decision. And I respect that.”
Kiffin said he consulted with former college football champion coaches Nick Saban and Pete Carroll while weighing LSU’s offer. Saban led the Tigers to a national title in 2003 before adding six more at Alabama.
“I think the world of Coach Saban, and I respect him,” Kiffin said. “And so there’s a reason we’re here.”
Speaking of the allure of the LSU program, Kiffin said, “When you take the history, tradition, passion and the great players in the state of Louisiana, no one can argue that when you’re in Tiger Stadium on Saturday night, there is nothing like it. This place is built for championships with championship expectations – we understand that – but as an elite competitor, that’s exactly what you want, and that’s why we’re here.”
Kiffin added at least $4m to his annual salary in the move from Ole Miss to LSU, according to his contract term sheet published by NOLA.com on Monday. Kiffin’s contract is for $91m over seven years, an average annual salary of $13m per year that would make him the No 2 earner among college football coaches.
Kiffin, who was paid $9m per year at Ole Miss, ended weeks of speculation about his future and confirmed leaving for LSU on Sunday. He officially signed a contract to take the reins at LSU.
The 5-year-old departs after the Rebels finished the regular season with an 11-1 record and a likely spot in the 12-team College Football Playoff this season. In his statement, Kiffin confirmed that he would not be coaching Ole Miss in the postseason. However, his LSU contract also agrees to pay him incentives he would have made based on how far the Rebels advance in this year’s College Football Playoff. That means he could make as much as $1m from his new school if Ole Miss wins this year’s national championship.
Kiffin has posted a 55-19 record (.743) with Ole Miss since taki