Monte Kiffin: Longtime college and football coach dies at 84

CNN
—

Longtime college and national football coach Monte Kiffin has died at the age of 84, according to the University of Mississippi. Advertise Thursday.

Kevin passed away peacefully in Oxford, Mississippi, surrounded by friends and family, the school announced.

“As his grandson Knox said, he is pain-free and smiling down on us from above. Please keep the Kevin family in your thoughts and prayers during this time,” the school said in a statement on social media.

Kevin was a longtime defensive coordinator in the NFL, spending 13 seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as well as seasons with the Minnesota Vikings, New Orleans Saints and Dallas Cowboys.

He was also known as the mastermind behind the “Tampa 2” defensive scheme that helped lead the Buccaneers to a Super Bowl XXXVII championship win over the Oakland Raiders in 2002.

The Glazer family, owners of the Buccaneers, said Monte was a “beloved and iconic member” of the organization.

“As a coach, Monty was a true innovator who got the best out of his players and helped create one of the most iconic defences of the early 2000s,” the Glazers said in a statement. statement.

“His passionate and energetic leadership style resonated with all of his players, and he was instrumental in our first Super Bowl win and the success of Hall of Famers like Warren Sapp, Derrick Brooks, John Lynch and Ronde Barber. Off the field, Monte was kind, honest, generous and always had a positive attitude.

“He was very special to the Buccaneers organization and our family. We send our heartfelt condolences to his wife Robin, his sons Lynn and Chris, his daughter Heidi, and Kevin’s entire family.”

Kevin also served as a defensive coordinator on his son Lynn’s staff while at the University of Tennessee in 2009, the University of Southern California from 2010 to 2012 and then as a defensive analyst at Florida Atlantic University.

Lin has been the head coach of Ole Miss since 2020, while Monty serves as an analyst on the staff.

Earlier on Thursday, Lin said, Posting pictures of him and his father on Xformerly known as Twitter, with the caption “My Hero”.