Former Florida coach Urban Meyer still views the Gainesville as one of the premier destinations in college football, calling it a “top three job” as the program searches for its next head coach.
While in the "A Peek Inside Florida Gators Football" podcast, Meyer also assessed Florida’s pursuit of Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin. Would he be a good fit for the program? Also, can Florida provide resources for the future of the program?
Kiffin has been widely regarded as the leading candidate to replace Billy Napier, with Florida’s interest long circulating through coaching circles. LSU has recently intensified its own pursuit of Kiffin. Both SEC school have reportedly hosted family members of the Ole Miss coach. What makes the timing of this interesting is the the pressing need to finalize a decision on his future. It will make many other decisions fall in line.
Meyer, who won two national championships at Florida, said Kiffin’s resume and coaching style would translate well in Gainesville.
“I do think Lane would be a great choice,” Meyer said. “I think Florida’s one of those top five jobs, maybe top three jobs in America that you can swing for it all every year. Now, it’s rugged. There’s a lot of ruggedness to it. Some people were saying it’s much more comfortable at Ole Miss. I don’t know if a guy like Lane likes comfort.”
Since Meyer’s departure in 2010, Florida has struggled to regain national relevance despite flashes under Will Muschamp and Dan Mullen. With athletic director Scott Stricklin seeking a coach capable of winning championships, Meyer believes Kiffin fits the profile of a candidate ready to take that leap.
For Kiffin, would he leave behind everything in Oxford for the unknowns of Gainesville? On the outside, this is still viewed as a top program. However, winning at a high level hasn't happened lately.
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