Chris Kiffin returning to Ole Miss, will reportedly serve as co-defensive coordinator

Jan. 13—OXFORD — A source has confirmed to the Daily Journal reports that Ole Miss is expected to hire Chris Kiffin — brother of head coach Lane Kiffin and a former Rebels' staffer under Hugh Freeze — to its staff. He will serve as the co-defensive coordinator with Chris Partridge, The Athletic's Bruce Feldman reports. Rebel Grove was the first to report that Kiffin was joining the staff.

Chris Kiffin most recently worked as the defensive line coach for the Cleveland Browns. In his prior stint with the Rebels, he served defensive line coach and recruiting coordinator. Scout.com named him the National Recruiter of the Year in 2013, and he helped recruit four top-15 classes in Oxford.

He was given a two year show-cause penalty in 2017 that stemmed from the NCAA's sanctions levied against Ole Miss for lack of institutional control. Kiffin was already a member of his brother's Florida Atlantic staff at that point, and the penalty has since expired.

Co-defensive coordinator D.J. Durkin has reportedly accepted a job as the defensive coordinator at Texas A&M. Chris Partridge — who was the other defensive coordinator this season with Durkin — will retain the same role with Kiffin.

MICHAEL KATZ is the Ole Miss athletics reporter for the Daily Journal. Contact him at michael.katz@djournal.com.