'Tier 1 Coaching Staff!' 247 Sports' Josh Pate Speaks Highly Of Lane Kiffin, Ole Miss
Ole Miss football is looking to be a perennial contender in a new era of college football with a 12-team playoff, and it can be, so long as Lane Kiffin is leading the charge.
He's the backbone of the operations, but he's not alone in the quest to bring The Grove back to long-term glory.
In a recent episode of 247Sports 'Late Kick Show,' Josh Pate listed the Rebels as one of the best-coached programs in the country entering spring practice. Pate mentioned how impressive the staff is, especially given Ole Miss' long-standing status in the SEC.
"Ole Miss has a Tier 1 coaching staff in the SEC," said Pate. "I think that surprises a lot of you, candidly. It surprises me that Lane Kiffin has gotten his overall staff to Tier 1 status in the most talent-rich environment in America, the Southeastern Conference."
Three staffs — not head coaches — graded out higher than Ole Miss entering 2024. Georgia, behind Kirby Smart, was listed as the top program while Alabama and Auburn rounded out the list.
It's hard to argue with the status of Alabama, albeit unproven in a new conference. Kalen DeBoer won 25 games in two years with a roster that went 4-8 under Jimmy Lake in 2021. DeBoer also guided Washington to back-to-back 11-win seasons and a national championship appearance last January.
With the addition of South Alabama head coach Kane Wommack as defensive coordinator, the Crimson Tide has three coaches with leading experience and four with SEC ties from different locations. Kiffin, however, might have an edge over the former Huskies coach, and certainly has talking room over former Rebels' leader Hugh Freeze on The Plains.
A majority of the coaching staff returns from an 11-2 2023 finish, including both coordinators. After scourging the transfer portal for names like Texas A&M's Walter Nolen, South Carolina's Juice Wells and Arkansas' Chris Paul Jr., the Rebels seem poised to compete alongside Georgia, Texas and others for a conference title.
But it's more than just the portal for Kiffin. Pate believes players only look better prepared for the next stage of their careers because of what they learned under the current staff.
"A lot of people look at Ole Miss and they think transfer portal. You think talent acquisition," Pate continued. "You may not think elite coaching staff. They've got a Tier 1 coaching staff down here now."
The Rebels open the 2024 season at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on Aug. 31 against FCS Furman.
