Saban hires Kiffin

Alabama hired former Southern California coach Lane Kiffin on Friday as its offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. Kiffin returns to the Southeastern Conference after head coaching stints with the NFL’s Oakland Raiders, Alabama rival Tennessee and the Trojans. He replaces Doug Nussmeier, who left Alabama for Michigan. “He is an outstanding and creative offensive coach who has great experience both at the college and NFL level,” coach Nick Saban said in a statement. “He has a very good understanding of the game and I have always been impressed with what I saw in the games he called.” The 38-year-old Kiffin was 28-15 in three-plus seasons with USC. He was fired five games into last season from one of college football’s marquee jobs. – AP