Coaching Chaos: When One Man Wanted to Manage Two Big Jobs

USATue Dec 02 2025
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In the world of college football, things can get pretty wild. Take Lane Kiffin, for example. He found himself in a tricky spot back in 2017. He was the offensive coordinator for Alabama but had just landed a new job as the head coach at Florida Atlantic. The problem? He wanted to stick around at Alabama through the College Football Playoff, even after starting his new gig. This situation didn't sit well with Nick Saban, the head coach of Alabama. Saban believed Kiffin was spreading himself too thin. He thought Kiffin wasn't giving his all to Alabama, especially with the big national championship game coming up. It was a messy situation, to say the least. So, why did Kiffin want to do both jobs at the same time? Well, it's not uncommon for coaches to juggle multiple roles, but this was a bit extreme. Kiffin probably wanted to make sure everything was set up perfectly at Florida Atlantic while still contributing to Alabama's success. But was it really possible to do both jobs well? This story shows just how competitive and high-pressure the world of college football can be. Coaches are often pulled in different directions, trying to balance their current roles with new opportunities. It's a tough balancing act, and not everyone can pull it off. The media, especially ESPN, played a big role in making this story even bigger. They loved the drama and the speculation. But in the end, it was up to Kiffin and Saban to figure out what was best for their teams. And let's not forget, this was all happening in the run-up to the biggest game of the season. Talk about pressure!