Ole Miss Brings Back Former Coaches for Playoffs, Except for Kiffin

As Ole Miss gears up for the playoffs, some familiar faces from its coaching past are making a return—though it won’t include Lane Kiffin.

Four current assistants from LSU are set to help the Rebels, who have achieved an impressive 11-1 record during their inaugural journey into the College Football Playoff. Reports from ESPN indicate that these coaches, including tight ends coach Joe Cox, wide receivers coach George McDonald, assistant quarterbacks coach Dane Stevens, and slot receivers coach Sawyer Jordan, reunited on campus to prepare for Ole Miss’s first-round matchup against the Tulane Green Wave, who hold an 11-2 record as well.

Interestingly, it seems that Kiffin, now the head coach at LSU after a tumultuous departure from Ole Miss, has given the go-ahead for these assistants to return and assist in maximizing the team’s chances in the playoffs. That’s quite an interesting twist, right? It’s hard to imagine a coach not being part of his team when they’re on such a big stage.

The coaching staff was expected to be available largely due to the collaboration with Charlie Weis Jr., who has a longstanding connection with the program. His presence, alongside the LSU assistants, aims to bolster the team’s prospects, particularly as they prepare for the critical game ahead.

Kiffin, who recently confirmed a new seven-year, $91 million deal with LSU, expressed a desire to stay on with Ole Miss during this breakthrough moment. However, he mentioned on social media that his hopes were, quite unfortunately, dismissed by athletic director Keith Carter.

Speaking of Carter, he later acknowledged that Kiffin was informed weeks ago that if he chose to leave the program, he wouldn’t be able to coach in the playoffs. This is quite the predicament, isn’t it? On one hand, you have a coach stepping away from a program he built up. On the other, you have the team needing every bit of expertise to succeed in this championship opportunity.

While the Rebels opened their doors once more to the assistants who made significant contributions to their successful season, they prepare for a rematch with Tulane. Previously, they triumphed over the Green Wave during a home game, winning decisively, 45-10, on September 20.

The stage is now set for the rematch scheduled on Saturday, December 20, as the No. 6 seed Rebels welcome the No. 11 seeded Green Wave back to Oxford.