Jon Sumrall pokes at Lane Kiffin to start Florida introductory press conference

Florida head coach Jon Sumrall began his introductory press conference on Monday afternoon by poking fun at new LSU coach Lane Kiffin. Kiffin was one time considered for the Gators job, which instead went to Sumrall after a reported lack of communication between Kiffin and Florida.

“Going through the process of making decisions on jobs this time of year,” Sumrall said. “Maybe not ideal in coaching in the season. There’s very few people that you can trust to maybe have that conversation with them about what it’s like to go through this because it’s unique.

“And I do want to be very direct on one thing… Lane Kiffin and I have been going through the same thing and we’ve talked a lot. We were both in agreement that I was the right man for this job. So, he co-signed on that.”

The hilarious jab broke the ice in a room filled with reporters who were soon to press him on the future of the program they cover. First impressions are everything, as they say, and Gators fans can rest assured to know their new head coach has a sense of humor.

“Lane is a dear friend,” Sumrall said. “And I have to poke a little fun at him.”

Both coaches were announced as the next head coach of their respective programs on Sunday, which comes at a peculiar time in the college football calendar. Conference championship week has yet to be played, but national signing day is coming up along with the new one-time transfer portal window and coaches need to be in place to sign their rosters for next season.

In turn, Sumrall will join the Florida program once Tulane’s season concludes despite already being introduced as the program’s next head coach. Lane Kiffin was not awarded that luxury at Ole Miss, who’s set to play in the College Football Playoff later this month.

Sumrall’s Green Wave are currently set to take on North Texas in the American Conference championship game Saturday. A win will most likely send Tulane to the College Football Playoff.

He’ll arrive in Gainesville with the reputation of being a winner. He’s only been a head coach for four seasons, but has never led his programs to anything less than a conference championship game. Sumrall will look to lead Florida to similar success beginning in 2026.