When Lane Kiffin signed his six-year contract extension to remain as head coach at Ole Miss instead of jumping over a state to become the head man at SEC West rival Auburn in November, he felt good about his decision.
Kiffin, who finished his third season with the program with an 8-5 record overall and 4-4 in SEC, was in a bevy of rumors as the Tigers top target to become the next head coach from the moment Auburn fired Bryan Harsin on Oct. 31. However, despite staying after consulting with his family and his own personal considerations, Kiffin said he wrestled with the scrutiny he faced from Ole Miss fans in his decision-making process.
“… When you think you’re doing the right thing and then you’re really criticized for it -- especially by your own people -- I struggled with that because I feel like I went through a decision-making process that you're supposed to go through,” Kiffin told ESPN in an interview on Friday. “I mean, you got to decide. It’s your life and your family’s life.”
