Watch: Lane Kiffin introduced as head coach at Ole Miss
On Monday, the University of Mississippi introduced Lane Kiffin as the new head coach of the Rebels.
“This is a partnership that is coming together today to take Ole Miss to a national level. We didn’t come here to be good. We came here to be great,” Kiffin said in his introduction.
The “Lane Train” arrived in Oxford on Sunday night to a crowd of Ole Miss fans on the tarmac of Lane’s plane. The coach took pictures with fans and even held a few babies.
“It was a lot better than another tarmac experience I had,” Kiffin joked in the following press conference.
He’ll take on the head coach role after the school released Matt Luke after the Egg Bowl loss to Mississippi State.
Kiffin and the Rebels made the announcement Saturday after his previous team, Florida Atlantic, defeated UAB in the Conference USA championship game.
Kiffin brought two staff members with him from FAU, running backs coach Kevin Smith and strength and conditioning coach Wilson Love. He said he plans to bring in a “great staff” and will interview any of the current staff interested in staying in Oxford.
With the new early signing period, the “Lane Train” won’t idle in Oxford long. The Rebel’s new head coach said he’s already met with two recruits and plans to stay busy.
As for the players already on the roster, he said he’s set to talk with his new team after the press conference Monday. He hopes that the success in developing former players in his previous stops will speak for itself.
“We’re opening competition, It’s a clean slate.” Kiffin said. “I think they know who we are and that makes it a little easier... We have a lot of good things to sell and have proof for it.”
You can watch the announcement and press conference here:
This story was originally published December 9, 2019 at 1:14 PM.