Chris Doering shares thoughts on Lane Kiffin and Florida Gators coaching search

After moving on from former head coach Billy Napier last weekend, the Florida Gators’ search for their next coach is on. As the college football season moves into week 9, University brass will be vetting and gauging interest in their job opening. Interest in the Florida job stems well past the fanbase, as former players are also invested in who the next guy will be to lead the Orange and Blue. Former UF wide receiver and current SEC Network analyst, Chris Doering, joined Dan Hicken and Jeff Prosser on 1010XL Radio’s show, The Drill, this week.

The Florida Gators great shares his opinions on Lane Kiffin

After a conversation about Napier’s departure, the talks shifted towards the future, and the popular name within UF’s fanbase, current Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin.

“I think that’s the overwhelmingly top choice of fans, of influential boosters, and of media members,” Chris Doering said on The Drill. “I just don’t think it’s that simple. Going back to [the comments members of the media have said about] what you said about the toxic fanbase. Don’t know that it’s toxic, but I do think that we sometimes overvalue the job. I don’t know that it’s a better job than what he has at Ole Miss in terms of where the program is and where the financial commitment is. I want to say that the ‘Grove Collective’ is one of the top five collectives in the country. So, from a financial standpoint, I don’t know if we can match it there.”

Though Doering mentioned some of the factors that could keep Kiffin at Ole Miss, he also knows there are reasons why the move could make sense.

“At the same time, he’s obviously intrigued,” Doering said. “He’s got a place down in Boca, he loves fishing, loves being down in the sun. Looked at Coach [Steve] Spurrier as kind of one of his young coaching idols. There’s a lot that can go in Florida’s direction as well.”

Doering also brought up another possible scenario for Kiffin’s coaching future that doesn’t include the college ranks.

“I’ve also heard that he’s not done with the NFL, and that he’s had some interest in jobs recently, like the Dolphins job if it opens up,” Doering said. “There’s a lot that’s going on here than just, ‘Hey, we’re Florida, we can come and get whoever we want to’.”

The topic of which job is better

Chris Doering isn’t the only person who has questioned Kiffin’s willingness to leave Ole Miss due to the success he’s had with the Rebels. The school has also made a clear commitment to helping field a strong team, given the resources allocated to talent acquisition. That has somewhat sparked the debate about whether or not the Florida job is better than the Ole Miss job. Sure, the Florida Gators have had much more success winning championships. However, Doering doesn’t see those as major factors for coaches looking at what’s most important in today’s game.

“It doesn’t matter because it’s all about money now,’ he said. “It’s all about what you can do to build the roster by compensating players. As a matter of fact, facilities don’t matter anymore. There’s nothing that matters other than your financial commitment to building a roster.”

More funds directed to athletics and the football program means more money to lure top high school recruits and transfer recruits. That seems to be the blueprint of the sport these days, but even that doesn’t promise a championship.

“If you want to win a championship, you have to commit to paying players. Even that’s not a guarantee. I mean, Texas has the highest roster and they’re on the verge of being an 8-4 team.”

Doering looks ahead at the future of the Florida Gators

Hicken and Prosser asked Doering for his list of Florida Gators replacements. Given his career with the SEC Network, Doering had to handicap his answer, but he did say that someone with experience coaching in the SEC is one of the most important factors in his opinion when making this hire.

“I think you have to have a guy with a resume that has done it at the highest level, and has done it in the SEC. It’s a different world. Kalen Debohr’s success is an aberration, I think. You have to have some sort of experience in this league. The days of hiring an up-and-comer are over. You have to have luxury.”

The commitment that colleges are making with big contracts and even bigger buyouts is a challenge that we’re seeing more of. We’ve already seen Indiana lock head coach Curt Cignetti into a new deal this season, and Ole Miss AD Keith Carter hopes that he can do the same with Kiffin.

The Gators entered 2025 with 5 sub-500 finishes under four coaches in the previous 14 seasons, or since the departure of Urban Meyer. This will be the third football head coaching hire for current Florida Gators’ AD Scott Stricklin, and one that Doering views that he must must-hit out of the park.

“It’s time to find out who can have us back in the mix,” Doering said. “We’re talking about Vanderbilt, we’re talking about Indiana. All of these programs being able to be in the college football playoffs discussion, and we’re not anywhere near that conversation. That’s not the way it should be at Florida. Ever.”