Since the start of the 2023 season, Lane Kiffin has turned Ole Miss into an improbable SEC power, one that has racked up 30 wins. With that success, his name is surfacing for programs like Florida, LSU, and other vacancies, hardly surprising. But the rise of one of the most sought-after HCs in the ongoing coaching carousel sparks another story: From where did his football journey start?

Well, Kiffin’s roots run deep in Fresno. He quarterbacked the Bulldogs for three seasons, from 1994 to 1996, before graduating in 1998. Even before completing his graduation, he was already coaching, starting as a student assistant under Pat Hill in ’97 and ’98. So, football was never just a game for him; it was a launchpad.