Alabama announces OC Lane Kiffin will return next season
Published January 24, 2015, 01:59:15 PM
Turns out, Lane Kiffin isn't going anywhere, after all. (Getty Images)
The Lane Kiffin-to-San Francisco speculation is over ... for now. On Saturday, the University of Alabama announced Kiffin that will return as the school's offensive coordinator next season.
Here's a statement from coach Nick Saban, via the school's official Twitter account.
"We've very pleased and happy that Lane is going to be staying here at the University of Alabama with us," Nick Saban said. "He's done a fabulous job and is one of the finest offensive coaches in the country. He is going to have plenty of opportunities in the future and we want to continue to help him develop as a coach so when he leaves here, he'll be in a very good situation. Our offense was extremely productive last season and we look forward to building on some of the good things we did on that side of the ball with this year's team."
Kiffin was the coach of the Raiders in 2007 and was fired four games into the 2008 season. He has since been working in the college ranks, serving as coach for the University of Tennessee and University of Southern California.
He spent the 2014 season as the offensive coordinator at Alabama where he helped the Crimson Tide convert former running back to a record-setting quarterback in Blake Sims. After enduring a 42-35 beating to Ohio State in the Sugar Bowl, Kiffin was regarded as a potential candidate for the 49ers' offensive coordinator vacancy. Saban noted earlier in the week that Kiffin was committed to his position. The team made it official on Saturday.
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