ATLANTA, GA - DECEMBER 03: Offensive Coordinator Quarterbacks Lane Kiffin of the Alabama Crimson Tide celebrates their 54 to 16 win over the Florida Gators in the SEC Championship game at the Georgia Dome on December 3, 2016 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Report: Lane Kiffin wasn’t a legit option for as many coaching jobs as it may have seemed

That's how you bolster your interest from other schools.

Lane Kiffin is now the head coach at FAU and was rumored to be heading to a bunch of other places as well before that. However, it seems those rumors were not as legitimate as some people. At least that's how it sounds according to USA Today's Dan Wolken:

Still, as Kiffin's three-year contract with Alabama was on the verge of running out, it was clear he wouldn't be back in Tuscaloosa. The relationship with Saban had run its course, and the only question was whether he would end up joining Ed Orgeron's new staff at LSU or find a head coaching job.

But the offers never came and Kiffin grew more desperate to get another chance, according to multiple people within the coaching search industry, who spoke to USA TODAY Sports on the condition of anonymity so they could be candid about their opinions of him.

Though Kiffin frequently exaggerated other programs' interest in him to those inside the football facility at Alabama, he only came close to getting one job — Houston, which had him as a finalist but chose Major Applewhite instead — before landing at FAU.

RELATED: Report: Lane Kiffin has agreed on next coaching position

The 41-year old Kiffin has wanted back in as a head ever he was unceremoniously fired by USC and to go "crawling" back to the ranks of coordinator. He's done that the last three years and has done it well leading Alabama to the playoff three years in a row with a championship coming last season.

RELATED: Lane Kiffin's reported FAU salary shows what mattered most in the end

His new job at FAU will allow him to prove he can run a program without incident and hopefully act as a springboard for his next head coaching job which will undoubtedly come in the next few years.

[h/t Saturday Down South]