Ole Miss announces celebration of life for Monte Kiffin
On Thursday, Ole Miss Football announced the death of Monte Kiffin, a longtime football coach and the father of Lane Kiffin. He was on the Rebels staff at the time, working under his son as a defensive analyst. Friends and family were around Kiffin as he passed.
A celebration of life has now been scheduled to remember Kiffin. Ole Miss announced on Saturday, July 20, they will honor Kiffin in Largo, Florida. An area of the country Kiffin supposedly loved, the event will take place at Indian Rocks Baptist Church.
“A celebration of an amazing life in honor of Monte Kiffin will take place next Saturday (7/20) at 1 PM ET at Indian Rocks Baptist Church in Largo, Fla,” the Ole Miss Football X account said.
Lane Kiffin has spent the past couple of days remembering his Dad on social media. Tampa Bay was a special place for the family, being where Monte won a Super Bowl with the Buccaneers. He was then later inducted into the team’s Ring of Honor.
Even the Tampa Bay Rays decided to honor the former coach, holding a moment of silence ahead of Friday’s game against the Cleveland Guardians.
Monte Kiffin passes away at the age of 84
Monte Kiffin, the father of Lane Kiffin who put together a decorated NFL and college coaching career, has died. He was 84 years old.
Ole Miss announced Kiffin’s death Thursday, saying he was surrounded by family and friends in Oxford. He was working for the Rebels under his son as a defensive analyst after a coaching career that started in 1966 at his alma mater, Nebraska.
“Monte Kiffin, 84, peacefully passed away today in Oxford surrounded by family and friends,” Ole Miss’ announcement read. “As his grandson Knox said, he’s free of pain and smiling down on us from above. Please keep the Kiffin family in your thoughts and prayers during this time.”
Kiffin played at Nebraska in the early 1960s and went on to play a brief professional career after going in the 15th round of the 1964 NFL Draft. He got his coaching start at his alma mater in 1966 as a graduate assistant before moving up to defensive coordinator from 1969-76.
After a stint as the defensive coordinator at Arkansas, Kiffin became the head coach at NC State, amassing a 16-17 record during his three years in Raleigh during what turned out to be his only head coaching opportunity. He then headed to the NFL level with the Green Bay Packers as their linebackers coach in 1983 before stints with the Buffalo Bills, Minnesota Vikings, New York Jets and New Orleans Saints in the same role.
On3’s Nick Schultz contributed to this report
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