Lane Kiffin thanks Ole Miss community for embracing him after mother’s death

The offseason was a difficult one at times for Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin personally. In June, his mother, Robin Kiffin, passed away at 81 years old, less than a year after his father, Monte Kiffin, passed away.

Now, Kiffin is turning his attention to the 2025 college football season, the first without his mother. As he turned that page, Kiffin met with media members. There, he took the time to praise the Ole Miss community for how they have embraced him over the years and his entire family on the whole.

“Kind of on another loss since seeing you guys,” Lane Kiffin said. “I just really want to thank Ole Miss and Oxford and the people here again. You know, passing of my mother and celebration of life last week and Pastor Fish [Robinson] and how he led that and the passion that he had, and how he spoke about her and so many people here that I just would have never guessed that my parents would end up finishing their lives in Oxford, Mississippi and really it was an amazing time.”

Since Lane Kiffin first got to Ole Miss in 2020, he and his family have been very active in the local community. His father would spend time on staff as an assistant coach. Now, his brother, Chris Kiffin, has also joined the staff. His children can often be seen around the program and school as well. Even their dog, Juice, gets to be out and enjoy Oxford.

“To have my brother here and the grandkids here for both of them for the last few years. It was very special,” Kiffin said. “But the people of Oxford were just amazing again. So, I just want to thank everybody, especially Pastor Fish for that.”

No cause of death was released for Robin when she passed away in June. She was the matriarch of a football coaching family that included a legendary defensive mind in Monte, a modern head coach in Lane, and a longtime assistant coach in Chris. At the time of her passing, Lane shared multiple tributes to his mother on social media.

“Will miss you Mom,” Kiffin wrote. “Thank you for everything and say hi to Pops. I’m glad your broken heart can now be healed with him again.”

Lane Kiffin will, undoubtedly, have a heavy heart when Ole Miss begins this upcoming season. That first game is coming quickly too, with a game against Georgia State on August 30th.