'Pops was awesome': Jared Ivey and Jaxson Dart remember Monte Kiffin
DALLAS — Ole Miss headed to Texas for the Southeastern Conference Media Days on Monday with a heavy heart. Lane Kiffin, Jaxson Dart, Jared Ivey and Tre Harris were there to represent the Rebels and talk about the highly anticipated 2024 season.
But there was also the loss of Kiffin’s father, Monte Kiffin, that was still fresh in the hearts of all four. The legendary football coached died at the age of 84 last Thursday.
While there was wonder if the SEC would bump Ole Miss back from its schedule slot on the opening day of Media Days to later in the week, but Kiffin and his players arrived to the Omni Hotel as planned.
Kiffin told some stories of his late father during his opening comments in the main room on Monday afternoon but then shifted the focus to his Ole Miss team and this year.
For Ivey and Dart they opened up about the loss of the elder Kiffin after spending the last few years around him and what he meant to them.
“Pops was awesome, man,” Ivey said. “He was a D-line guy and he would come watch pass rush and after we had rushed and everybody went he would call everybody and huddle up and tell a story. He would get us hyped up. …He was around a lot, so it was tough.
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“My mom loved him. She had a great conversation with him whenever I came on my visit. He kind of pulled her to the side and let her know the type of guy Lane is and kind of the stuff that he instilled in coach Kiffin. Love the guy.”
Monte Kiffin was a defensive genius but he also spent time with Ole Miss players on offense.
Just like he was around for Ivey’s visit, the elder Kiffin was also around to see quarterback Jaxson Dart when he visited back in 2022.
From his first day on the Ole Miss campus Dart was around Monte, sitting under the learning tree. His time around the Rebels program was short but the lessons the players took from him will carry on for years to come.
“Pops was on my visit here. From day one he was somebody that I was surrounded with,” Dart said. “Definitely someone that meant a lot to this program. He instills everything when it comes down to coaching and I think he was coach Kiffin’s biggest mentor. I’ve been very grateful and honored to be in his presence and to learn from him. I know he’s in a better place.”
A celebration of life for Monte Kiffin will take place on Friday in Largo, Florida.
