Alabama offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Lane Kiffin watches the A-Day NCAA college football spring game Saturday, April 19, 2014, in Tuscaloosa, Ala.Could Lane Kiffin be one-and-done in the Southeastern Conference again?
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Sunday afternoon that Alabama’s offensive coordinator is a “frontrunner” for the same position with the San Francisco 49ers. The 49ers last week promoted defensive line coach Jim Tomsula to head coach, replacing Jim Harbaugh.
Schefter also listed Indianapolis Colts special assistant Rob Chudzinski as a candidate.
Kiffin was hired at Alabama last January and helped guide the Crimson Tide to an SEC title and to college football’s inaugural four-team playoff. Alabama set a program record by averaging 484.5 yards per game, and fifth-year senior quarterback Blake Sims set the school’s single-season record for passing yardage at 3,487.
Junior receiver Amari Cooper set a single-season league record for receptions (124) and school marks for yards (1,727) and touchdowns (16).
“I got what I expected,” Alabama head coach Nick Saban told the media when asked about Kiffin on the eve of the SEC championship game. “You guys didn’t get what you expected.”
Kiffin, who spent just one season as Tennessee’s head coach in 2009 before leaving for Southern California, said in a news conference before the Sugar Bowl loss to Ohio State that he definitely planned to be back for a second season in Tuscaloosa. He earned $680,000 this past season and is scheduled to make the same amount this year before getting bumped to $714,000 in 2016.
“I think we still have a lot of stuff that we can do better,” Kiffin said. “Working with a new quarterback again will be exciting. There is an excitement of the unknown to see if we can do this again and if we can perform really well, and obviously Coach Saban has recruited very well year in and year out.”
While Kiffin’s status with Alabama for the 2015 season is unknown, Altee Tenpenny’s is not. The 6-foot, 218-pound tailback from Arkansas announced via Twitter on Sunday that he would not be returning for his junior season.
“The past two years with the Crimson Tide have been a great experience,” Tenpenny said. “I wouldn’t trade it for anything, but it’s time to start a new chapter.”
Tenpenny was a top-100 national prospect in 2013 and rushed 22 times for 82 yards and a touchdown as a freshman. He had 26 carries for 136 yards this past season.
Also leaving the program is redshirt junior tight end Malcome Faciane, who had four career receptions for 16 yards.
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.