Recently hired Florida Atlantic football coach Lane Kiffin looks about as excited as one would for a trip to the DMV in a new "hype video" as National Signing Day approaches.
The former Alabama offensive coordinator, whose controversial career has included multiple firings, recruiting violations, and plenty of discontented fans and players, took the FAU job in December. It is not exactly a step up, as Kiffin is going from a Southeastern Conference program with perennial championship aspirations to a Conference USA one coming off three consecutive 3-9 seasons.
The video was meant to gin up enthusiasm for FAU fans to buy 2017 season tickets, but Kiffin did not look too pumped. Seeming to be looking directly into the sun, the squinting Kiffin says emotionlessly in the video, "Hey Owl Nation. This is Coach Kiffin. What an exciting time."
"Next week is National Signing Day. As we sign some of the best players in America, we need some of the best fans in America."
Commit to the Owls! Coach @Lane_Kiffin is bringing in the best recruits. Now we need the best fans!
Commit Today!https://t.co/Z6u9knOFu9 pic.twitter.com/KGMAFYDmD3
— FAU Football (@FAU_Football) January 27, 2017
He finishes off with a half-hearted attempt at FAU's "Go Owls."
The video has gone viral. SB Nation called it "cringeworthy." Al.com said the coach's energy level "leaves a lot to be desired." Others joked on Twitter about Kiffin looking like a hostage.
Lane, blink twice if you're ok! https://t.co/jorGGYjV5u
— Dan Wolken (@DanWolken) January 31, 2017
.@Lane_Kiffin are you being held against your will? https://t.co/MOTV0pfhbU
— Dr. Saturday (@YahooDrSaturday) January 31, 2017
I can't stop watching the Lane Kiffin FAU hype video. https://t.co/4QQ9NhW3cj
— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) January 31, 2017
WATCH: Lane Kiffin gave no effort at all in FAU hype video https://t.co/5rVyvq8Mxq via @sportsdailyblog
— Sandra Golden (@sportsandra) January 31, 2017
The FAU job is Kiffin's fourth head coaching gig, and third at the college level. None of them have been particularly successful.
After a run as a top assistant on the excellent University of Southern California teams of the early 2000s, he was hired at the age of 31 to coach the NFL's Oakland Raiders in 2007. However, he was fired less than halfway into his second season with a paltry 5-15 record.
He later took the head coaching job at Tennessee in 2009, going 7-6 in his first year, but he stunned Volunteer fans when he left after one season to take the open job at USC. That tenure was no less stormy.
In 2012, Kiffin infamously coached the preseason No. 1-ranked Trojans to a mediocre 7-6 record and out of the Top 25 polls by season's end. He was fired after a blowout loss in 2013 to Arizona State.
He spent the next three seasons as offensive coordinator at Alabama, winning a national championship in 2015, before taking the FAU job in December.