Shane Beamer sends condolences to Lane Kiffin after passing of Monte Kiffin

Monte Kiffin, the father of Lane Kiffin who put together a decorated NFL and college coaching career, died recently at the age of 84, and Shane Beamer honored him at SEC Media Days on Monday.

Ole Miss announced Kiffin’s death last Thursday, saying he was surrounded by family and friends in Oxford. He was working for the Rebels under his son as a defensive analyst after a coaching career that started in 1966 at his alma mater, Nebraska.

Monte Kiffin touched many in the college football world, including current South Carolina head coach Shane Beamer. The Gamecock leader is a legacy head coach himself, the son of Virginia Tech icon Frank Beamer. In fact, the younger Beamer used part of his opening statement at SEC Media Days to wish the Kiffin family well after Monte’s passing.

“Thoughts and prayers to Lane Kiffin and his family on the passing of his dad, Monte,” said Beamer, relating to Kiffin. “Being the son of a coach as well, I know that relationship and I know it’s a tough time for the Kiffin family.”

Shane Beamer then recalled a time when he once reached out to Monte Kiffin and received a call back from him.

“I can remember when Lane went to Southern Cal as the head coach and Monte went with him, I wrote Monte Kiffin a letter just saying I’d love to introduce myself and telling him how much respect I had for him. I got a phone call back from Monte Kiffin — I thought it was one of the coolest things — and (he) just spent 20 minutes talking to me on the phone.”

That’s quite a gesture from Monte Kiffin to a younger Shane Beamer back then, and clearly, he never forgot about it. “So, thinking of the Kiffin family and wish them well going forward,” added Beamer.

Monte Kiffin had worked for his son at several stops following his departure from the NFL level in 2008, and returning to college under Lane at Tennessee as defensive coordinator in 2009. He then followed his son to USC as assistant head coach from 2010-12 before ultimately going back to the NFL with the Dallas Cowboys in 2013.

But, the NFL didn’t keep him for too long, as Monte Kiffin returned to the college ranks once more at Florida Atlantic under Lane from 2017-19, then following him to Ole Miss after that.

Shane Beamer’s father, Frank, retired from Virginia Tech in 2015 following 29 seasons with the Hokies. Since his retirement, he’s maintained a role with the Virginia Tech athletics department.