Lane Kiffin signs new contract with Ole Miss
Ole Miss is not looking for a new head football coach and in fact agreed to terms with Lane Kiffin to a new contract extension.
The new was announced on Tuesday by Ole Miss athletics director Keith Carter.
The announcement ends a weeks-long saga of Kiffin being connected to the Auburn head football coach opening. The Tigers filled their position with former Ole Miss head coach Hugh Freeze on Tuesday, the same day the Rebels current coach signed a new deal.
“We appreciate Chancellor Glenn Boyce, Director of Athletics Keith Carter and the entire Ole Miss administration for their commitment and support of our football program,” Kiffin said in a statement. “With the support from our collective and a new state-of-the-art facility, we will be able to build off what we have achieved so far and offer more opportunities to our student-athletes. I have a tremendous amount of gratitude for our fans, players and staff and am extremely excited to take this team to the next level. Hotty Toddy!”
Last week saw the issue come to boil after a report emerged on Nov. 21 that Kiffin was all but set to take the Auburn job and step down at Ole Miss on Friday, the day after the Egg Bowl.
Kiffin met with the team a couple times during the week to affirm he had not taken a new job nor had discussions with another team.
Following the Ole Miss’ 24-22 loss to Mississippi State Kiffin was asked if he “anticipated” being at Ole Miss for the 2023 season.
Kiffin answered with a blunt, “Yes, I do.”
Through the first three years of the Kiffin era Ole Miss has earned three bowl berths, including the Sugar Bowl last year.
Ole Miss is 23-12 under Kiffin which includes the first 10-win regular season in program history in 2021. The Rebels will learn its bowl destination on Sunday.
“Coach Kiffin is establishing a program that can sustain success and contend for championships,” Carter said in a statement. “We are investing in our football program like never before. The greatly increased salary pool for assistant coaches and support staff is competitive with any of our peers, and from a facility standpoint, the $45 million renovation of the Manning Center will conclude this summer. In addition, the remarkable support of Rebel Nation has produced tremendous momentum in NIL. We will continue to equip Coach Kiffin with these and the other resources necessary to compete and win at the highest level and build on the accomplishments of the last three seasons.”
Kiffin’s contract details have not been confirmed by the Ole Miss Spirit, yet, but Sports Illustrated’s Ross Dellenger reported on Tuesday it was around an average of $9 million annually for six years with the rollover option for seven.
Throughout the last month the Grove Collective also saw a boost as a result of the potential for Kiffin to leave Ole Miss.
It was reported by the Grove Collective last week that it has currently amassed $10 million. The NIL ‘war chest’ is something that has been a driving force for Kiffin.
