Entering his fifth season as the head coach of Ole Miss, Lane Kiffin is brimming with ambition. Last year’s record-breaking 11 wins set the stage for an exciting season, especially with the College Football Playoff expanding to 12 teams. But instead of getting caught up in the hype, Kiffin’s surprisingly taking a “zen-mode.” 

It looks like Kiffin is focusing on his own work and finding happiness, not getting distracted by other teams. He’s even sharing this message with his fans, encouraging them to do the same.

Recently, Kiffin doubled down on an inspirational Instagram post, urging followers to “Listen to this twice!” The message challenged traditional views of happiness, stating, “That happiness was never about your job or your degree or being in a relationship” and discouraged blindly following others’ “footsteps.”

Instead, the post encouraged personal discovery and noted, “Happiness was always about the discovery, hope, listening to your heart and following it wherever it chose to go.” It continued, urging you to be “kinder to yourself… about embracing the person you were becoming.” And then “One day you will understand that happiness was always about learning how to live with yourself, and it’s never in the hands of others.” 

The message then concluded with a powerful truth — “It was always about you” and true “happiness” comes from within, not external factors.

Kiffin seems to be taking his own advice to heart. Despite being one of the busiest coaches in history, he’s found time to focus on “personal happiness.” He’s been seen spending more quality time with his children, suggesting that perhaps his happiness lies with them.

Coach Lane Kiffin celebrates his family

This May was filled with heartwarming moments for the Ole Miss head coach. Kiffin recently celebrated his 49th birthday on May 9th with a surprise party thrown by his elder daughter Landry. The father-daughter duo went on a dinner night and posted several pictures online. Their close bond was evident as Kiffin even shared a message Landry wrote to her sorority sisters.

In a similar way, Kiffin also shares a bond with his younger daughter Presley. The 17-year-old recently joined the USC Trojans volleyball team, and Kiffin has now become her biggest online cheerleader. He even treated Presley and her friends to a celebratory dinner at a Japanese restaurant.

Now, it’s not just his daughter, even with his son Knox Kiffin, he’s been spotted sharing some close moments. Knox, a talented quarterback prospect of the 2028 class, recently showcased his skills at the SMU Dallas Showcase. Kiffin proudly watched his son throw a perfect dime and cheered him on the sidelines. Looks like Kiffin finds his “happiness” in celebrating his children’s lives and embracing his role as a “proud father.”