Lane Kiffin brushes off talk of leaving Alabama

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- Taking stock of the success he had in his first year as Alabama's offensive coordinator, Lane Kiffin said his work in Tuscaloosa isn't finished.

The former Tennessee and USC head coach enters his second year at Alabama after being named as a front-runner for the San Francisco 49ers offensive coordinator position, which ultimately went to Geep Chryst.

"Until the end of the year when those things happen, I don't think about it," Kiffin told reporters of potential job offers. "You sign the contract and go to work and worry about that stuff afterwards.

"So the calls that come, obviously you're going to listen to them. But I just really felt that we had done so many good things in Year 1, but this chapter wasn't over yet. There's still so many things to learn."

Kiffin helped transform Alabama's offense last season, implementing a no-huddle offense that put up 484 yards per game and scored 68 touchdowns, which ranked second in the SEC. Blake Sims, a former wide receiver and backup quarterback, set a school record with 3,487 passing yards under Kiffin's tutelage. Wide receiver Amari Cooper led the country in receptions and was a Heisman Trophy finalist.

Kiffin said he felt like a freshman last year, learning Nick Saban's way of doing things at Alabama. Now he's a sophomore under the four-time national champion head coach.

"Now you really start to understand why and how he does everything," Kiffin said.

Junior tight end O.J. Howard said he wasn't surprised Kiffin stuck around for another season.

"He loves us, man, as players, and we love him as a coach," Howard said. "He's doing a great thing for our team. He's a great playcaller. I'm glad he's still here too."