Lane Kiffin: Leaving Ole Miss for LSU was 'excruciating'

Admitting he struggled with the decision to walk away from playoff-bound Ole Miss, new LSU coach Lane Kiffin vowed Monday to make his new team "the best program in all of college football."

Kiffin asserted that he tried hard to convince Ole Miss officials to let him coach the Rebels in the postseason, but the school wouldn't let him stay on the job once he committed to move to LSU.

"That was ... excruciating and difficult," Kiffin said at his introductory press conference in Baton Rouge, La. "We tried every possible thing (in negotiations) for a long time the other night and into the morning. ...

"We presented a plan (to stay through the College Football Playoff). At the end of the day, that's their decision. And I respect that."

Kiffin said he consulted with former college football champion coaches Nick Saban and Pete Carroll while weighing LSU's offer. Saban led the Tigers to a national title in 2003 before adding six more at Alabama.

"I think the world of Coach Saban, and I respect him," Kiffin said. "And so there's a reason we're here."

Speaking of the allure of the LSU program, Kiffin said, "When you take the history, tradition, passion and the great players in the state of Louisiana, no one can argue that when you're in Tiger Stadium on Saturday night, there is nothing like it. This place is built for championships with championship expectations -- we understand that -- but as an elite competitor, that's exactly what you want, and that's why we're here."

Kiffin added at least $4 million to his annual salary in the move from Ole Miss to LSU, according to his contract term sheet published by NOLA.com on Monday.

Kiffin's contract is for $91 million over seven years, an average annual salary of $13 million per year that would make him the No. 2 earner among college football coaches.

Kiffin, who was paid $9 million per year at Ole Miss, ended weeks of speculation about his future and confirmed leaving for LSU on Sunday. He officially signed a contract to take the reins at LSU.

Kiffin, 50, departs after the Rebels finished the regular season with an 11-1 record and a likely spot in the 12-team College Football Playoff this season. In his statement, Kiffin confirmed that he would not be coaching Ole Miss in the postseason.

While Kiffin won't be coaching Ole Miss in the postseason, his LSU contract also agrees to pay him incentives he would have made based on how far the Rebels advance in this year's College Football Playoff. That means he could make as much as $1 million from his new school if Ole Miss wins this year's national championship.

Defensive coordinator Pete Golding was promoted to head coach at Ole Miss. Golding takes over immediately and his first head-coaching experience of any kind will be to guide the Rebels in the CFP.

"Coach Kiffin and I met (Saturday), and he informed us that he is accepting the head coaching position at another school. For our program to begin preparing for its future -- both the short and long term, he will be stepping away from the team immediately," Carter said in a lengthy statement that did not mention Kiffin again.

"With this development, we could not be more excited to announce Pete Golding as the next head coach of the Ole Miss Rebels. His tenure will begin immediately as he leads our program in the pursuit of a national title. Today's team meeting was a clear indicator of his ability to galvanize our squad. All of our players and coaches are ecstatic and ready to lock arms for a playoff run.

Georgia's Kirby Smart was the highest-paid college coach in 2025 at $13.3 million a year according to the USA Today coaches' salary database. Ohio State's Ryan Day was paid about $12.5 million in 2025 after the Buckeyes won the national championship in January.

"We are thrilled to welcome Coach Kiffin as the next head coach of the LSU football program," LSU director of athletics Verge Ausberry said in a statement. "We shared when we began this search that LSU would secure the best coach in the country and Lane Kiffin is just that."

Kiffin has posted a 55-19 record (.743) with Ole Miss since taking the reins in 2020, leading the team to five straight bowl games, including wins in the Outback Bowl, Peach Bowl and Gator Bowl.

Before that, Kiffin rehabilitated his career following tumultuous tenures with Tennessee (7-6) and Southern California (28-15) by serving as an assistant under Nick Saban at Alabama from 2014-16. That led to his return to a lead role with Florida Atlantic from 2017-19, where he went 27-13.

Kiffin also had an unsuccessful 20-game NFL coaching stint with the then-Oakland Raiders in 2007-08 before being fired four games into his second season. He went 5-15.

Kelly went 34-14 at LSU, and combined with successful tenures at Central Michigan, Cincinnati, and Notre Dame, gives him a 200-76 record over 22 seasons (.725). Kiffin is 117-53 (.688).

--Field Level Media