The job wasn’t Lane Kiffin enough for Lane Kiffin.
Did we really think Kiffin, who hasn’t turned 40 yet but still has an all-timer of a resume that includes head coaching stops for the Oakland Raiders, Tennessee and USC– was going to leave his current post as Alabama’s offensive coordinator to do the same thing for the San Francisco 49ers?
Quick quiz: Name as many NFL offensive coordinators as you can in the next 15 seconds. Nope, not big enough. At least, not as big as the right-hand man to Nick Saban in college football’s favorite odd couple sideline sitcom.
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It’s a relationship that works, but for how long?
"He is going to have plenty of opportunities in the future,” Saban said in a statement. “We want to continue to help him develop as a coach so when he leaves here, he'll be in a very good situation."
It works for Alabama’s offense. We know the Kiffin effect by now. Alabama set a school record with 277.9 passing yards per game, Amari Cooper caught 124 passes and the Tide ran more plays per game than they ever have in the Saban era. Kiffin did a great job. Give him credit.
“I'm excited about what our offensive staff was able to accomplish last year,” Kiffin said. “But I also think there are a lot of things we can do a better job of in terms of putting our players in the best situation to have success.”
From a statistical standpoint, that means add about 30 seconds of time of possession. Saban’s three national championship teams at Alabama averaged 32:16 minutes or more of time of possession. The Tide had 31:45 last year. At a program where minutiae matters, those 30 seconds are more important than you think. It might have made the difference against Ohio State in the College Football Playoff.
Kiffin’s decision gives us another spin-off drama for the Iron Bowl. Now we get to see him match wits with new Auburn defensive coordinator Will Muschamp. Who makes the most GIF-ready faces? Another reason Nov. 28 can’t get here soon enough.
Kiffin also prevents Saban from choosing his fifth offensive coordinator since 2007.
Two of those guys – Jim McElwain and Doug Nussmeier – are taking on the Florida job. They might see Alabama in a SEC championship game down the road, maybe even in 2015. Saban can't let too many branches from the tree stay in the conference.
So it’s best to keep Kifin around for a while, maybe as long as possible. Keep in mind Saban, 62, is the fifth-oldest coach in the Power 5. Saban said Kiffin will be in a “good situation when he leaves.” There might not be a better situation at either the college or pro level than Alabama.
“I think the more time I can spend learning from (Saban), the better coach I will be in the future,” Kiffin said.
You don’t have to read between the lines to figure it out. Kiffin isn't going to parlay this into another coordinator gig. He wants to be a head coach in the future. He had a 35-21 record at Tennessee and USC. He's itching to prove he's as good as the resume says he is. If he hangs around in Tuscaloosa long enough, maybe that door opens.
That's why Alabama is more than Lane Kiffin enough for Lane Kiffin in the meantime.
