SEC Media Day: Heartbroken Lane Kiffin Breaks Silence on ‘Superhero’ Father Monte Kiffin’s Passing

Great coaches often have superheroes as support. For the Ole Miss Rebels head coach, the superhero was his father, the great Monte Kiffin. Taken aback by the profound loss of his father’s demise, Coach Kiffin paid an emotional tribute on July 16. The Rebels HC was lucky to spend some time with Monte during the latter part of his life when he was an analyst in Oxford.

Like Lane, the world of football will forever keep Monte, one of the best defensive minds of his time, in their hearts. Meanwhile, Lane will look up to his father’s “show up” advice during his coaching days to navigate the tough times ahead.

July 11, 2024, was a black day in football as the beloved Monte Kiffin passed away at 84. Following his father’s demise, his son Lane took the stage at SEC Media Days on Monday. Though the Ole Miss HC acknowledged that SEC Media Days was not the right platform to go in-depth on his father’s passing, he unveiled the collective emotions surrounding the celebrated figure. Lane reminisced about a conversation with one of his friends, “I’ve talked before about him being my hero. I had a middle school friend. And he said hero is not really the right term for (Monte). It’s superhero. That’s what he was to the people that he touched…Whether you were big or small, whatever you were, he tried to help.” 

Monte had a doctrine that he wanted his players to live by. He used to write it up on a chalkboard, which Lane remembers to this day. “The first rule of getting better was you gotta show up, show up and do your job. And that’s what I’m trying to do here,” the Rebels HC said. While Monte’s legacy is now carried forward by his very able son, here are some interesting things Kiffin said at SEC Media Days 2024. 

Lane Kiffin emphasizes dedication and process at Ole Miss

Lane’s speech was laced with a sprinkle of the coaching maestro, Nick Saban’s touch. The Ole Miss HC acknowledged his former Alabama Crimson Tide boss and said he is fortunate to have one of the top transfer portal classes in the nation. Lane said, “This is a rat poison situation here, to have all this attention on our players.” And acknowledged the hard work they are putting in, “But it means nothing, it’s all about the work they put in and the process. They are working hard…. there’s a ton of work to do on and off the field for us to perform well.”

Besides running in the race to bag the Big 12 title, the coach also keeps track of the proceedings surrounding the EA Sports College Football 25. While his son eagerly awaits the game to lift the curtain, Lane predicted something big for his star QB, Jaxson Dart. 

Lane came up with a confident take, “If they had a leadership rating in that game, and maybe they do. Jaxson Dart would be 99.” With high expectations looming above, it’s now to be seen how Lane keeps Monte’s legacy alive as he enters his fourth season at Ole Miss.