Ole Miss soccer coach Lane Kiffin desires to see change on the sidelines and expressed as a lot to reporters on Saturday because the Rebels get set to play Mercer in about three weeks.
Kiffin was requested about giving huge receivers coach Derrick Nix the possibility to behave as the top coach for the staff’s scrimmage. Kiffin stated he needed to offer Nix the “alternative to see what it’s like.”
He then talked about desirous to see extra minority head coaches within the NFL and school soccer.
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Head coach Lane Kiffin of the Mississippi Rebels through the Mississippi State Bulldogs recreation at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on Nov. 24, 2022, in Oxford, Mississippi. (Justin Ford/Getty Photographs)
“I keep in mind my dad telling me a very long time in the past to be very grateful for what you’ve got, as a result of this has not been an excellent career in any respect for minorities,” Kiffin stated, by way of the Clarion Ledger. “He used to say on a regular basis, ‘I am simply telling you, there’s extra Tony Dungys, there’s extra Lovie Smiths, there’s extra Mike Tomlins that by no means get the chance.’”
Kiffin’s father, Monte, was a longtime NFL and school coach earlier than he joined Ole Miss as a participant personnel analyst beneath his son. He was the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ defensive coordinator that produced a Corridor of Fame protection with Derrick Brooks, Warren Sapp and John Lynch. Monte Kiffin labored beneath Dungy for a few of these years. Herm Edwards, Lovie Smith and Jim Caldwell had been among the many assistants.
“I simply hope Black coaches that do not get alternatives begin getting alternatives, as a result of it’s ridiculous,” Lane Kiffin added. “We’re speaking about two main conferences proper right here on this space. No matter it’s – 80% of our gamers are minority, however we have all White coaches. It is actually a system that must be fastened.”
Nix, who’s Black, is in his sixteenth season on the Ole Miss workers. He spent 12 years because the staff’s operating backs coach and is getting into his fourth because the huge receivers coach.
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Ole Miss Rebels assistant coach Derrick Nix provides directions through the Texas A&M Aggies recreation on Oct. 29, 2022, at Kyle Discipline in Faculty Station, Texas. (John Rivera/Icon Sportswire by way of Getty Photographs)
He stated folks like Kiffin are necessary in opening the door for extra Black illustration on the sidelines.
“I feel as time goes on, I feel the door will proceed to open up wider and wider,” Nix added. “I’ve type of informed myself, I’d love to have the ability to get to the best stage and have the ability to try this, however it’s not a dealbreaker. Management the controllables, you already know?”
Kiffin broke down how necessary it’s for a longtime assistant, corresponding to Nix, to get the expertise within the head coach’s chair.
“To offer somebody the chance to talk in entrance of the staff, to deal with media, to deal with pregame meal, to deal with damage stories, to get on the market at this time to handle the type of scrimmage, which is sort of a mock recreation that manner, I feel was actually good for (Nix),” Kiffin stated, by way of Saturday Down South.
“And once more, you possibly can’t see how good any individual is till they get an opportunity to do it. That will be my want on the market to ADs and presidents and universities to grasp that, and this can be a good instance.”
Ole Miss Rebels head coach Lane Kiffin speaks throughout Southeastern Convention Soccer Kickoff Media Day, July 20, 2023, in Nashville, Tennessee. (Matthew Maxey/Icon Sportswire by way of Getty Photographs)
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Ole Miss’ season begins Sept. 2.
