The Florida State Seminoles quietly sought to bring Lane Kiffin on board before he ultimately chose to join LSU as their head coach, as reported by ESPN.
Michael Alford, the athletic director at Florida State, was discreetly attempting to convince Kiffin to consider a role with them in the SEC while they were both looking for coaching talent last month, according to a source familiar with the situation.
However, by November 23, it became evident that Kiffin had no interest in the position, and struggling head coach Mike Norvell was confirmed to return for his seventh season.
Kiffin and Alford share a professional history from their time at USC in the early 2000s.
If the Seminoles were to let Norvell go without cause, they would face a hefty $54 million payout, plus an additional $18 million for his assistant coaches.
At a press conference on Monday for admissions at LSU, Kiffin reaffirmed that there were four schools on his radar.
His coaching saga stretched over a few months before he committed to a seven-year deal with LSU, which pays him about $13 million a year.
Both LSU and Florida were on the lookout for prominent coaches after dismissing their previous coaches, Brian Kelly and Billy Napier, in October.
Florida withdrew from the coaching race last week, opting to hire John Sumrall, who previously coached at Tulane.
Following the Rebels’ victory over Mississippi State in the Egg Bowl, Kiffin announced his move to an SEC rival two days later.
Several players from Ole Miss criticized Kiffin on social media, challenging his assertions about seeking permission to coach during the College Football Playoff.
During a segment on “Super Talk Mississippi,” Ole Miss athletic director Keith Carter expressed skepticism regarding Kiffin’s statements in Baton Rouge, particularly about not being informed until Sunday morning that coaching through the CFP was off the table.
“There are numerous statements he’s made publicly that may not be entirely factual,” Carter remarked.
“Both the coach and his agent have likely been aware for weeks that coaching in the playoffs wouldn’t be feasible unless he remained at Ole Miss.”
In the meantime, Pete Golding, the defensive coordinator for Ole Miss, has been elevated to the position of permanent head coach for the 11-1 Rebels.
