The University of Mississippi announced that longtime football coach and innovative defensive mind Monte Kiffin died Thursday.
He was 84 years old.
Kiffin, the father of Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin, died peacefully in Oxford surrounded by his family, according to a statement from the school.
“As his grandson Knox said, he is free from pain and smiling down on us from heaven,” the University of Mississippi football team’s post read. “Please keep the Kiffin family in your thoughts and prayers during this time.”
Lane posted two childhood photos of herself with her father on Thursday morning, captioned with “my hero” and two heart emojis.
Kiffin had a brief professional stint as a player before spending more than five decades coaching in both college and the NFL, most notably as defensive coordinator for the Buccaneers for 13 seasons in the late 1990s and early 2000s, leading them to a Super Bowl victory in 2002.
He is credited with helping develop the “Tampa II” defensive scheme alongside former head coach Tony Dungy, which helped the Buccaneers win a Super Bowl.
The franchise also posted a heartfelt message following the news of X’s passing.
“Monte Kiffin was a beloved and iconic member of the Buccaneers family and our entire organization mourns his loss. As a coach, Monte was a true innovator who brought out the best in his players and helped create one of the iconic defenses of the early 2000s,” the Buccaneers statement said.
Kiffin also served as defensive coordinator for the NFL with the Vikings, Saints and Cowboys.
During his collegiate career, Kiffin served as defensive coordinator at Nebraska and Arkansas before serving as head coach at North Carolina State from 1980-1982.
He returned to college football in 2009, joining Tennessee as defensive coordinator under head coach son Lane, before moving to the University of Southern California with his son from 2010-12.
Kiffin most recently served as a player personnel analyst at Ole Miss.
