Boca Raton, FL-– In a move that will certainly breathe a lot of life into a program that hasn’t won more than three games in the past three years, Alabama offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin will head to Florida Atlantic to be their new head football coach as was announced at a press conference today.
Kiffin, the current Alabama offensive coordinator, was someone who had been tabbed for the job because of his offensive prowess and name recognition. His presser garnered over 2,000 ‘live’ views on the team’s Facebook page. Many say that Kiffin took a job that was beneath him or somehow his “last chance“.
He answered those critics today during his introductory press conference.
“My mindset was I want to find a place that’s very committed to winning, a place that wants to see great things happen…somewhere where they use the word ‘we’,” said Kiffin.
The University’s president, Dr. John Kelly, dubbed Kiffin ‘the genius in coaching,’ this morning. He seems to have everyone’s support. Kelly also mentioned how popular the school had become after hiring Kiffin on social media. Something that was certainly influential in his decision to select coach Kiffin to become the fifth head coach at Florida Atlantic.
The reality is FAU is a program that has tremendous potential but it has largely gone untapped. But a major issue for the program that began in just 2001 is that it has a new on campus stadium and an indoor facility that’s on tap but very little excitement behind the program. That’s hard to create for a team that’s not gone to a bowl game since 2008 or won more than three games recently.
Kiffin will need to recruit the South Florida area well. Keep kids from going to programs in his conference like top dog Western Kentucky and make them stay home and play for the Owls. It won’t be easy. Because like FAU, other Florida football programs have upped their anti. The University of South Florida hired Charlie Strong this past week and Butch Davis got the job in late November at Florida International. Couple those additions to the new comers at Miami (Mark Richt) and Central Florida (Scott Frost), Florida will have a big recruiting war that begins on January 11th as the dead period lifts on recruiting.
For now, Kiffin is a welcome sight in Boca as he brings a wealth of knowledge to FAU and offensive prowess.
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