Dec 3, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin reacts during the fourth quarter of the SEC Championship college football game against the Florida Gators at Georgia Dome. Photo Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Kiffin and FAU had been in contact about the opening at the Conference USA school since last Friday, sources told ESPN.
Kiffin plans to remain with Alabama throughout the College Football Playoff, ESPN’s Chris Low reported.
Florida Atlantic let Charlie Partridge go in November after three consecutive 3-9 finishes with two years remaining on a five-year, $2.7 million contract. The Owls’ last bowl appearance was in 2008 and since then, their record is 28-67.
Kiffin was a leading candidate to become Houston’s head coach but the Cougars decided to promote offensive coordinator Major Applewhite last week.
The 41-year-old Kiffin has served as Nick Saban’s offensive coordinator at Alabama for the past three seasons after he was fired as USC head coach in 2013. During his stay in Tuscaloosa, the Crimson Tide have reached the CFP each year and won the 2015 title.
Kiffin has been interested in becoming a head coach again after serving in that capacity at Tennessee in 2009 and USC for four years after a 20-game stint in the NFL with the Oakland Raiders. His college record was 35-21 and he coached the Raiders to a 5-15 mark from 2007 to 2008.
Saban has been a supporter of Kiffin getting another chance as a head coach.
“Absolutely,” Saban said at the SEC Championship pregame press conference when asked whether Kiffin was ready for the jump again. “I think he’s proven, when he was a head coach (at USC and Tennessee), he had a reasonably good amount of success, much more than I think he gets credit for.
“He’s done a phenomenal job in the three years that he’s been with us relative to taking the players that we had and actually molding a system, especially for the quarterback to be successful in. I think those are signs of tremendous maturity as a coach who is not just committed to a system, but is committed to doing the things that he has to do to help players be successful.”
