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Monte Kiffin (left) worked as defensive coordinator for his son Lane (right) at Tennessee and USC. (AP photo)
MOBILE, Alabama - How is Lane Kiffin enjoying his new job as Nick Saban’s offensive coordinator?
One way to measure the early returns on Kiffin’s job satisfaction:
Kiffin singing and Saban dancing? At the same party? It's like dogs and cats living together.
There’s another way to check on Kiffin’s fresh start. Ask his dad.
Wait. There he is. It's Monday of Senior Bowl week, the South team is practicing at Fairhope Stadium and Monte Kiffin, the defensive coordinator of the Dallas Cowboys, the godfather of the Tampa 2 defense, just happens to be standing right there.
So how about it, Monte? How’s Lane settling in?
“He’s pretty fired up.”
That would explain the singing.
You would expect a father to stand up for his son, especially a father who resigned as the USC defensive coordinator after the rocky 2012 season so his son, the head coach, wouldn’t have to listen to critics urging him to fire dear old dad.
The elder Kiffin also had his son’s back during our brief conversation while acknowledging that his coaching career hasn’t been a smooth ride down a paved road despite his reputation for failing and falling forward.
“Lane has taken a few knocks here and there along the way,” his dad said. “I know him pretty well. A lot better than most people. I know down deep he’s a good person, contrary to what people might think. Coach Saban wouldn’t have hired him if he didn’t feel the same way.”
Saban also must believe that, the opinion of Kiffin’s football critics to the contrary, Steve Sarkisian wasn’t the real brains behind the high-powered USC offense under head coach Pete Carroll.
Asked about his son’s ability to develop quarterbacks, which will be paramount with Alabama searching for AJ McCarron’s successor, Monte Kiffin said his son “has a really good feel for offense, the running game and the passing game.”
Succeed as Saban’s offensive coordinator, and there’s a very good chance Lane Kiffin will get another shot to be a head coach. Monte Kiffin said that’s his son’s goal, “but right now he's not complaining.”
“To be able to go with Coach Saban, I think it's a good opportunity for Lane. When Coach Saban hires you, it helps your credibility.”
That's one area where the younger Kiffin could use a boost.