Coaching carousel 2025-26

[Rocky Mtn Bob]

Sec Coaching hires ….. how would you rate them?

• Arkansas: B
• Florida: B+
• Kent State: Don't care.
• Stanford: Don't care.
• UCLA: Don't care.
• Penn State: They seem to be spinning in circles.
• Virginia Tech: A
• Mississippi: B
• Oklahoma State: B+ (But I don't know much about Morris.)
• Oregon State: (I have no clue.)
• Colorado State: A (For them.)
• LSU: A (Even though I hope Lane BOMBS.)
• Auburn: C
• UAB: Don't care.
• California: Don't care.
• Michigan State: C+ (Though I know little about Fitzgerald.)
• Coastal Carolina: Don't care.

 

[countrytider]

All you guys bashing Kiffin for leaving, all agree LSU is the better job, right? So we can’t fault him for that.

We also know that Saban, along with Pete Carroll, advised Kiffin to take the LSU job.

Let’s not pretend Saban handled leaving the Dolphins the right way.

Kiffin clearly wanted to stay with his players and be allowed to coach the playoffs, and the players wanted him to stay.

So if you recognize LSU as the better job, (and it is), but you’re bashing him for how he handled a no-win situation

I get it, the easiest thing in the world to do is bash Lane Kiffin, but the Ole Miss AD forced him into a corner with an ultimatum.

It’s the system, not Kiffin.

How would you guys have handled it?

Edit to add: I find it strange Saban recommend he go to LSU, but was clearly against him being hired at Bama for all of his unforgivable sins.

 

[bamamc1]

Not only that but this has to be a gut punch to the OM community as a whole, the best season in modern OM history and the coach leaves, what a way to realize no matter how good you are, you'll still never be good enough in some eyes.

This post brought tears to my eyes. When I was at UNA we went over and played baseball against them each year along with Mississippi State. We were always treated with class at both schools. I also feel for OM fans, alumni, and students as well. This is one of the worst things I’ve seen in intercollegiate athletics in my lifetime.

 

[81usaf92]

All you guys bashing Kiffin for leaving, all agree LSU is the better job, right? So we can’t fault him for that.

We also know that Saban, along with Pete Carroll, advised Kiffin to take the LSU job.

Let’s not pretend Saban handled leaving the Dolphins the right way.

Kiffin clearly wanted to stay with his players and be allowed to coach the playoffs, and the players wanted him to stay.

So if you recognize LSU as the better job, (and it is), but you’re bashing him for how he handled a no-win situation

I get it, the easiest thing in the world to do is bash Lane Kiffin, but the Ole Miss AD forced him into a corner with an ultimatum.

It’s the system, not Kiffin.

How would you guys have handled it?

Edit to add: I find it strange Saban recommend he go to LSU, but was clearly against him being hired at Bama for all of his unforgivable sins.

For Saban:


1) Saban was in the middle of the season

2) Saban had zero talks with Alabama before the final game of his season. All talks between Mal and Saban were nonexistent and stopped with Jimmy Sexton. Mal even took a plan to Miami without having a meeting with Saban nor any indication Saban was ever going to meet with him.

So he was effectively going off the truth at the time and wanted to shut down the distraction. He NEVER MADE IT ABOUT HIM.

3) If you are going to put up something comparing Saban’s handling of a potential suitor to Lane’s handling of this then Miami isn’t the situation. His handling of the Texas job is far more comparable, but nowhere near as narcissistic and damaging.

For Kiffin

1) Kiffin had a reputation of burning a SEC city down due to his mishandling of a potential suitor before. He should have known what is and isn’t going to be viewed as appropriate.

2) There is a difference between considering and trolling during a coaching search. Kiffin and his family had to make all 3 programs involved waste a ridiculous amount of time on what they were going to do. Florida should really be thanking Auburn for screwing up with Sumrall because they spent far too much time thinking Lane was interested in them and nearly missed out on the best available coach.

3) Kiffin is a fool if he thought he was going to coach the next game. Anyone suggesting he should is an idiot too. I don’t care if Nick Saban himself said it. There is no world in which it makes sense for a coach to be able to coach the next game right before the early signing period when they are leaving to a school who is one of your permanent rivals. Kiffin is already proving why that was a ridiculous notion to even consider when he is threatening his staffers future if they don’t get on the plane just because he didn’t get his way.

4) the AD did the only sensible thing. I seriously doubt if DeBoer won the SECCG and suddenly said he is going to Auburn,Tennessee, or Mississippi St that any Alabama fan would be okay with him spending another day with direct access to our roster, facilities, and resources. That is effectively what Kiffin is suggesting he is entitled to. Had he taken the Penn St job or some NFL job (maybe even Florida) I doubt it would’ve been as big of an issue. But the fact that he took it to a direct rival makes it a no brainer that the relationship had to be severed immediately.


Honestly the only way he would have gotten out of this looking good by choosing LSU would’ve been if he didn’t constantly make it all about him and not make these stupid demands to Ole Miss after accepting the LSU job. Then not try to burn the bridge after already burning the bridge by trying to steal staff and recruits. Or to keep it simple… shut up, finish the season, take the job, thank Ole Miss for the opportunity, and leave.

 

[Slowpoke Catracho]

My cousin is the starting center for OM. His mom told me that it has been a very stressful 2 weeks for the whole team, as well as their household. He is a legacy at Ole Miss so he won't be leaving. Think about the players and their families as well and how much stress CLK added to their households. It's like having your boss that you've only known get fired or quit on you. You remember all of those pre-game and half-time speeches that CLK gave about not giving up and/or quitting? Yeah, you get the picture!

 

[RammerJammer14]

And, Ole Miss is one of LSU's annual opponents so they will play every year.

I stayed away from the whole conference expansion, 9 game conference season brouhaha out of exasperation- is LSU really not a permanent rival for us anymore? Gonna be strange, especially when Dixieland delight is played.

 

[Slowpoke Catracho]

I stayed away from the whole conference expansion, 9 game conference season brouhaha out of exasperation- is LSU really not a permanent rival for us anymore? Gonna be strange, especially when Dixieland delight is played.

No they are not. Cowbell U is.

 

[MikeInBama]

I stayed away from the whole conference expansion, 9 game conference season brouhaha out of exasperation- is LSU really not a permanent rival for us anymore? Gonna be strange, especially when Dixieland delight is played.

We play them every other year like all teams not Barn, TN and Miss State.

 

[Joefus]

You can dress it up however you want- lane knew he was leaving weeks ago and tried to make 3 (2 really bc om wasn’t actually in the running even tho he wanted them to think they were) diff entire universities wait on pins and needles (to their own detriment) so he could very publicly “make his mind up”. I mean let’s cut the bad faith arguments and call it what it is- lane tried what every immature man has tried….hop from one lady to the next seamlessly and without anyone knowing how crummy your intentions really were. Doesn’t work with women and doesn’t work with high profile jobs. He could’ve handled it with honesty and grace but wanted his cake, my cake, and your cake and to eat it too. And now he’s pouting like a petulant child. He’s a man child and it’s well past wearing thin

 

[crimsonaudio]

I assure you, there are those that will expect a national championship next season.

Hey, he left a guaranteed CFP team so he could have the chance at an umm, an uhh...

*checks notes*

... CFP team.

He might want to wait on that Mensa test...

 

[crimsonaudio]

All you guys bashing Kiffin for leaving, all agree LSU is the better job, right?

Nope. Maybe three years ago, but now I'm not sure.

OM is in the CFP this year, LSU isn't. OM has the cash to stay where they are, LSU might, we just don't know.

The reality is in the modern game, LSU isn't necessarily a better gig than OM, and he has OM where they need to be, but he's not only leaving, he's leaving the team high and dry. Just like a player who decides to quit on his team mid-season, Kiffin has shown he cares only about the money, the players can pound sand.

Maybe Kiffin is the norm in CFB - he likely is - but that doesn't mean I don't hate the lack of character.

 

[CB4]

My buddy up in Lexington is saying Stoops is out at Kentucky.

Edit: Nothing on SM at this point, but he’s pretty well connected to folks in athletic department there..

 

[Joefus]

My buddy up in Lexington is saying Stoops is out at Kentucky.

Boy did they suddenly find some money. His buyout is like 37 mill and it’s alllllll due upon his termination. Best contract I’ve ever heard of

 

[CB4]

Boy did they suddenly find some money. His buyout is like 37 mill and it’s alllllll due upon his termination. Best contract I’ve ever heard of

Have an ugly season then get “dog walked” by your in state rival has a tendency to loosen purse strings.

just saw CBSSports saying Stoops firing is now “expected”.

 

[CB4]

REPORT: Mark Stoops Fired After 13 Seasons with Kentucky

REPORT: Mark Stoops, UK football's all-time winningest head coach, fired after 13 seasons with the program

www.lex18.com

 

[countrytider]

For Saban:


1) Saban was in the middle of the season

2) Saban had zero talks with Alabama before the final game of his season. All talks between Mal and Saban were nonexistent and stopped with Jimmy Sexton. Mal even took a plan to Miami without having a meeting with Saban nor any indication Saban was ever going to meet with him.

So he was effectively going off the truth at the time and wanted to shut down the distraction. He NEVER MADE IT ABOUT HIM.

3) If you are going to put up something comparing Saban’s handling of a potential suitor to Lane’s handling of this then Miami isn’t the situation. His handling of the Texas job is far more comparable, but nowhere near as narcissistic and damaging.

For Kiffin

1) Kiffin had a reputation of burning a SEC city down due to his mishandling of a potential suitor before. He should have known what is and isn’t going to be viewed as appropriate.

2) There is a difference between considering and trolling during a coaching search. Kiffin and his family had to make all 3 programs involved waste a ridiculous amount of time on what they were going to do. Florida should really be thanking Auburn for screwing up with Sumrall because they spent far too much time thinking Lane was interested in them and nearly missed out on the best available coach.

3) Kiffin is a fool if he thought he was going to coach the next game. Anyone suggesting he should is an idiot too. I don’t care if Nick Saban himself said it. There is no world in which it makes sense for a coach to be able to coach the next game right before the early signing period when they are leaving to a school who is one of your permanent rivals. Kiffin is already proving why that was a ridiculous notion to even consider when he is threatening his staffers future if they don’t get on the plane just because he didn’t get his way.

4) the AD did the only sensible thing. I seriously doubt if DeBoer won the SECCG and suddenly said he is going to Auburn,Tennessee, or Mississippi St that any Alabama fan would be okay with him spending another day with direct access to our roster, facilities, and resources. That is effectively what Kiffin is suggesting he is entitled to. Had he taken the Penn St job or some NFL job (maybe even Florida) I doubt it would’ve been as big of an issue. But the fact that he took it to a direct rival makes it a no brainer that the relationship had to be severed immediately.


Honestly the only way he would have gotten out of this looking good by choosing LSU would’ve been if he didn’t constantly make it all about him and not make these stupid demands to Ole Miss after accepting the LSU job. Then not try to burn the bridge after already burning the bridge by trying to steal staff and recruits. Or to keep it simple… shut up, finish the season, take the job, thank Ole Miss for the opportunity, and leave.

With current setup, I don’t see how waiting until the end of the playoffs would be an option.

Again, even if you don’t think the way Saban handled leaving Miami is comparable, how do you explain Saban recommending Kiffin take the LSU job?

Then turn around and bash Kiffin for doing it, but without a solution for HOW it should have been done.

It’s just Kiffin hate, plain and simple. It was a no win situation for Kiffin and that’s why nobody can answer my question of how it should have been handled, nor explain how Saban would advise Kiffin to make the move, but just two years ago Saban was one of the MAJOR reasons Bama didn’t hire him.

It makes no sense. So instead of face-palming my posts, tell me how it should have been handled with the current setup…

 

[crimsonaudio]

With current setup, I don’t see how waiting until the end of the playoffs would be an option.

Again, even if you don’t think the way Saban handled leaving Miami is comparable, how do you explain Saban recommending Kiffin take the LSU job?

Then turn around and bash Kiffin for doing it, but without a solution for HOW it should have been done.

It’s just Kiffin hate, plain and simple. It was a no win situation for Kiffin and that’s why nobody can answer my question of how it should have been handled, nor explain how Saban would advise Kiffin to make the move, but just two years ago Saban was one of the MAJOR reasons Bama didn’t hire him.

It makes no sense. So instead of face-palming my posts, tell me how it should have been handled with the current setup…

It's simple - you stay with your team until the season ends.

That's exactly what Saban did at Miami, and I suspect is what most (myself included) expected Kiffin to do at OM.

 

[Joefus]

REPORT: Mark Stoops Fired After 13 Seasons with Kentucky

REPORT: Mark Stoops, UK football's all-time winningest head coach, fired after 13 seasons with the program

www.lex18.com

Man spending all that money to jump in an already picked over coaching pool is just…..bananas. It probably is past time to make this move but there’s just no way you’re getting a better coach. If a lateral move is gonna cost you that much….just don’t do it. Maybe they’ll snag some nfl coach that got fired. Heck even mora took a new job already. There’s just the James Madison guy left and he’s rumored to Penn st. They are gonna have to have 50 something mill ready to go immediately. Buyouts plus new coaches first year salaries…..just wow

 

[Slowpoke Catracho]

With current setup, I don’t see how waiting until the end of the playoffs would be an option.

Again, even if you don’t think the way Saban handled leaving Miami is comparable, how do you explain Saban recommending Kiffin take the LSU job?

Then turn around and bash Kiffin for doing it, but without a solution for HOW it should have been done.

It’s just Kiffin hate, plain and simple. It was a no win situation for Kiffin and that’s why nobody can answer my question of how it should have been handled, nor explain how Saban would advise Kiffin to make the move, but just two years ago Saban was one of the MAJOR reasons Bama didn’t hire him.

It makes no sense. So instead of face-palming my posts, tell me how it should have been handled with the current setup…

How many more million do you need once you have your first couple of million? He doesn’t leave because of money, it’s because of ego! When it’s for ego, it’s a character issue. You tell your prospective boss that you will wait and fulfill your season before you will negotiate and leave. When you are done with your season, you leave. If I’m hiring him that tells me that I’m hiring someone who won’t quit.

 

[bamamc1]

My cousin is the starting center for OM. His mom told me that it has been a very stressful 2 weeks for the whole team, as well as their household. He is a legacy at Ole Miss so he won't be leaving. Think about the players and their families as well and how much stress CLK added to their households. It's like having your boss that you've only known get fired or quit on you. You remember all of those pre-game and half-time speeches that CLK gave about not giving up and/or quitting? Yeah, you get the picture!

Great post. Someone on here with an actual “insider” finally. Hate it for him for sure.