After one very successful season in Tuscaloosa, Lane Kiffin and his rehabbed image are once again a hot commodity. Reportedly.
Sunday saw a report surface that labeled Kiffin as the front-runner to become the new offensive coordinator of the NFL’s San Francisco 49ers. Fast-forward three days and Kiffin remains the offensive coordinator of the Alabama Crimson Tide... for now.
“I can’t say that right now,” Nick Saban said at the Senior Bowl practice Tuesday when asked in Kiffin will be his coordinator in 2015. “I know Lane is committed to us right now and he’s doing the best he can to help us recruit and do the things that we need to do to have a better team next year. We’re hopeful that that will continue.”
Kiffin is reportedly still doing his job at the collegiate level as multiple outlets had him on the recruiting trail this week ahead of National Signing Day.
Saban already has two openings to fill on the defensive portion of his coaching staff -- inside linebackers coach Kevin Steele left to take over as LSU’s coordinator while outside linebackers coach Lance Thompson made a lateral move to Auburn. Even if there’s a third, the head coach said all of the movement just comes with the territory.
“I think all of our coaches this time of the year have opportunities,” Saban said. “I think guys work hard so that they can get opportunities and if there are better opportunities that serve them better professionally, we’re very supportive in our guys getting promotions and doing those types of things.”