Lane Kiffin will be rolling with the Tide next season.
The former Tennessee and Southern California head coach has been hired as Alabama’s new offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, the university announced Friday. ESPN reported the deal is for three years.
“We are excited to have Lane join our staff,” Alabama coach Nick Saban said in a statement. “He is an outstanding and creative offensive coach who has great experience both at the college and NFL level.
“He has a very good understanding of the game and I have always been impressed with what I saw in the games he called. He coaches with a great deal of passion and enthusiasm, and also does an excellent job as a teacher.”
Kiffin spent time with Saban and the team in Tuscaloosa before their Sugar Bowl appearance and will take over for Doug Nussmeier, who left Alabama on Thursday to become Michigan’s offensive coordinator.
“We want to thank the University of Alabama and Coach Saban for this tremendous opportunity, and we feel humbled and honored to be a part of the Crimson Tide family,” Kiffin said in a statement. “I’ve always had the utmost respect for what Coach Saban has done with his programs. Having the unique opportunity to be here last month, I was able to meet some of the great players and the great people in the organization, and I’m very excited to start working with them. We’ve seen the passion and support of the Alabama fans firsthand, and when that’s combined with the storied history and tradition of the program, this is a very special place to coach.”
Kiffin has been unemployed since USC fired him in September. He compiled a 28-15 record in three-plus seasons at USC, which hired him after he spent one season at Tennessee. Kiffin also coached the NFL’s Oakland Raiders, but he went just 5-15 before being fired four games into the 2008 season.
