Lane Kiffin gets 10-year deal after first 10-win season in FAU history
— -- Lane Kiffin, who has resurrected Florida Atlantic's football program in just one season, has agreed to a new 10-year deal with the? Owls.
"This is further proof of FAU's unbridled ambition," FAU president Dr. John Kelly told ESPN on Tuesday.
Florida Atlantic (10-3) faces Akron on Tuesday night in the Cheribundi Tart Cherry Boca Raton Bowl and has won nine straight games after capturing the Conference USA championship earlier this month.
The 10 wins are the most in program history for the Owls in their 13 years as an FBS school. Prior to Kiffin's arrival, FAU had suffered through three straight 3-9 seasons.
"We are grateful that the president and university are this excited about what we are doing here at FAU and into the future, although our focus remains completely on the team and this historic season finale tonight on ESPN," Kiffin told ESPN on Tuesday.
Kelly had earlier told ESPN West Palm that the two sides were working on a new contract.
"I've told Lane that when I met with him, I thought we could be a top-25 program and we need a coach who can do that," Kelly said in a TV segment. "He's on the verge of doing that. We're obviously looking toward keeping Lane long term."
The Owls' nine-game win streak is the second longest in the country behind the 12-game streak put together by Central Florida. A win in the bowl game would make FAU the only FBS team to go unbeaten against conference opponents this season and also win a bowl game.
The only other team with a chance to claim that distinction would be UCF, if the Knights can beat Auburn in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl on Jan. 1.
Kiffin's initial deal, which was for five years, paid him $950,000 annually. His new deal will run through December 2027.
Kiffin, 42, told ESPN earlier this month that he was "at peace" coaching at FAU.
"I can go wherever I want and not many people recognize me, and who wouldn't love living in Boca?" said Kiffin, who bought a place on the water and owns a boat and two jet skis along with a dock where he can fish.
"There's no entitlement with these kids. They're hungry, and every time we win, it's like they've just won the Super Bowl. That's a great feeling, seeing them get what they deserve. There's a brotherhood that we've created here, and I think we've got a chance to be even better next year."
Kiffin's impact has transcended football. Kelly told ESPN earlier this month that FAU's out-of-state applications for the 2018 fall semester were up 35 percent.
"And we haven't done anything else differently, so it has to be Lane," Kelly said. "He just gets it, both as a football coach and being able to attract attention to our university. I laugh just about every day at something he puts on Twitter and understand that he's about the good of the institution and is thinking about what appeals to a 17-year-old kid and not a 60-year-old guy."
