LSU head coach Lane Kiffin was told by former Alabama head coach Nick Saban to stay away from college sorority girls while serving as offensive coordinator in Tuscaloosa, according to an explosive new book by college football author John Talty.
The 51-year-old coach, who recently signed a $91 million contract to lead Louisiana State University, had his wild antics in student bars detailed in an excerpt of "Lane Being Lane" published by Vanity Fair on Wednesday.
Kiffin served as offensive coordinator under Saban at the University of Alabama from 2014 to 2016 before being fired. During his tenure in Tuscaloosa, Kiffin's wife, Layla, and their three children remained in California following his previous tenure as head coach at the University of Southern California. The couple split in 2016 before reuniting last year.
Living alone in Alabama gave Kiffin the freedom to regularly visit the student town's bustling nightlife. His attempts to pick up women quickly found their way back to Saban after rumors spread across Tuscaloosa. Saban's wife, Terry, was alerted to Kiffin's behavior by her friends and informed her husband about his offensive coordinator.
Allegations of student bar antics in Tuscaloosa
The book alleges that Saban, upon hearing about Kiffin's night life, told at least one staff member to intervene. According to one former coach, Saban instructed staff: "You've got to keep Lane away from the girls that are in college. Just keep him away from the sorority girls. Make sure they've graduated college or are working a job."
Local establishment workers also recalled Kiffin's behavior during his time in town. The co-owner of the Innisfree Irish Pub in Tuscaloosa said Kiffin would demand to know "where the hotties are" and ask staff: "Can you introduce me to hotties?"
It has also been claimed that Kiffin used the alias "Joey Freshwater" in an effort to conceal his identity from women when recognized in local bars. During a 2017 interview with Clay Travis, Kiffin denied ever using that specific name, stating: "I've used Jimmy Chestnut but not Joey Freshwater."
Concerns over drinking and career impact
The book quotes a friend of Kiffin from that period who admitted being concerned that the coach would "drink himself to death." The friend added: "I've seen him on the floor crying like a goddamn baby and then I've seen him doing s*** that's like 'you got to put your d*** back in your pants.'"
A bartender in Tuscaloosa also commented on Kiffin's lifestyle, stating: "The fact he made it out of Tuscaloosa without anything becoming super public is wild."
According to the book, Kiffin's behavior during his three seasons at Alabama effectively ended his chances of replacing Saban when the legendary coach eventually retired after 17 seasons and six national championships with the Crimson Tide.
Kiffin's family dynamic was also shaped by his coaching moves. His wife Layla and their three children, including daughter Landry, stayed in California rather than relocating to Alabama. Although Kiffin and Layla divorced in 2016 while he was working at Alabama, they reunited last year.
Dismissal from Alabama and missed job openings
Towards the end of the 2016 season, Kiffin failed to emerge as a serious candidate for prized head coaching openings at the University of Texas, LSU, and the University of Oregon. He interviewed twice with the Houston Cougars, but the job went to an internal candidate after billionaire booster Tilman Fertitta described Kiffin as "not a safe hire."
In December 2016, Kiffin agreed to become the new head coach at Florida Atlantic University, but he was set to remain with Alabama through their College Football Playoff run. However, his relationship with Saban rapidly deteriorated during the postseason.
It emerged that Kiffin was calling plays the team had not practiced during Alabama's victory over Washington, which had secured a spot in the national championship game. Veteran offensive players visited Saban to express concern over Kiffin's lack of focus, while Saban privately complained that Alabama should have beaten Washington by more than 17 points.
Days before the national championship game, Saban reached a breaking point and declared: "I'm firing the cocksucker." Kiffin was relieved of his duties before the championship game and officially transitioned to Florida Atlantic prior to the 2017 season.
Coaching career across college football and the NFL
Kiffin is the son of legendary NFL defensive assistant Monte Kiffin. After playing quarterback at Fresno State, Kiffin began his coaching career at USC under head coach Pete Carroll. In little more than a decade, he rose to become head coach of the Oakland Raiders in the NFL.
His tenure with the Raiders ended in conflict when owner Al Davis tried to force Kiffin to resign in 2008. Following his exit from Oakland, Kiffin returned to college football as head coach at the University of Tennessee before taking the head coaching job at USC.
Kiffin has remained a central figure in college football controversy. In November, he stunned the sport by quitting playoff-bound Ole Miss to take the head coaching position at LSU, signing a $91 million deal that sparked weeks of intense fallout. Kiffin claimed he was nearly "run off the road" by angry Ole Miss fans as he departed Mississippi under a cloud.
Sobriety and personal transformation
In May, Kiffin publicly acknowledged that his drinking contributed to his 2016 divorce from Layla and hindered his coaching career. Speaking to Vanity Fair, Kiffin reflected on his earlier mindset, stating: "My whole drive when I was younger was like, 'How fast can I get everything? How fast can I get the big job? The big contract?'"
Kiffin quit drinking in 2021 while serving as head coach at Ole Miss. Around that time, he began practicing yoga, which helped him lose 45 pounds. Explaining his lifestyle change to Vanity Fair, he said: "As I've gotten older, I've tried to work on that, making decisions that are more delayed gratification. I got tired of digging out of hangovers, tired of digging out of situations or things I said."
Kiffin also began journaling and shared an Alcoholics Anonymous quotation with ESPN that he had written down: "Ego was being replaced with self-respect, resentment and hatred were being replaced with tolerance and understanding."
On January 30, Kiffin posted a photograph on X alongside a smiling Layla to celebrate five years of sobriety. In his post, Kiffin wrote: "Welp 5 years ago today, I made a decision that would change my life and many others around me. I want to say to anyone that has something holding you back from being the best version of yourself you CAN do it!! It won't be easy AT ALL, but I promise you it will be worth it."
