Lane Kiffin is now the head coach of FAU, as he works to rebuild his name across the football landscape.
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While speaking on ESPN radio, Kiffin discussed the job openings he was rumored for and detailed just how close he was to getting a deal done, per SEC Country.
"We were very close," Lane Kiffin said of Houston during the interview, per Coaching Search. "There had not been a decision made that I would go there over here. I felt, talking with Florida Atlantic, when I went into the first meeting, I was not feeling I knew it was a job I'd take. I came out of there saying, 'OK, yes it is.'
"Coaching jobs aren't all about the facilities or the weight room or the location. Maturity and age, you realize the job is about the people making the decisions, the board, president, athletic director, and what direction they want to go. ... I felt that here for sure. I was very excited coming out of the meeting. I had not made a decision where I would go if I had both offers."
Kiffin was rumored to have been in the running for other top jobs, including LSU's offensive coordinator job, the Oregon head coaching job and the vacant USF gig.
Oregon would hire Willie Taggart, Charlie Strong took the USF job and LSU hired Matt Canada after Kiffin accepted the FAU position.
