Florida HC Billy Napier reflects on impactful legacy of Ole Miss HC Lane Kiffin's father Monte Kiffin

Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin lost his father, renowned defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin (84), last week. The charismatic coach still showed up for the ongoing SEC media days on day three despite the circumstances.

Florida Gators coach Billy Napier paid tribute to Monte Kiffin during his opening speech on day three of the SEC media days, highlighting his impact on the people around him.

"I'd like to start today with a few comments about Monte Kiffin and the Kiffin family," Napier said. "This week we lost one of the all-time greats in our profession, Monte Kiffin, and I worked with Lane for three years at the University of Alabama.

"And I would tell you, Lane coaches because of his dad and what he observed growing up. And I certainly chose the profession because of my dad. I lost my dad seven years ago to ALS.

"Lane and I have been communicating throughout the week. I texted him early in the week. I said, 'I've been through this before,' and told him, 'Coaching is a profession where you have an opportunity to make an impact on people and leave a legacy.' And his dad did just that."

Billy Napier and Lane Kiffin coached together on Nick Saban's staff at Alabama from 2014-2015 when the former was the receivers coach while the latter was the offensive coordinator.

Lane Kiffin paid tribute to his father Monte Kiffin

Monte Kiffin had a legendary career where he was mostly known as a defensive coordinator. He spent most of his coaching career in the NFL, spending 13 years with the Tampa Bay Buccanneers where he will be buried on Saturday. The older Kiffin is in the franchise's ring of honor.

Monte also coached on some of his son's teams, including USC, FAU, Tennessee and most recently, Ole Miss as an analyst.

Speaking during day three of the SEC media days, his son, Lane Kiffin, mentioned why he attended the event despite being in the middle of making funeral arrangements for his father.

"Show up and do your job," Kiffin said. “That’s what I’m doing here.”

The usually upbeat Lane Kiffin proceeded to pay glowing tribute to his father, focusing on his passion for helping others.

“Hero is really not the right term for him (Monte). It’s superhero,” Lane Kiffin said. “That’s what he was to the people that he touched. Now I’m using his term of him, because I really feel like there’s very few superheroes and few great ones that loved everyone and tried to help everyone he came in touch with, whether you were big or small, wherever you were, he tried to help."

The Ole Miss Rebels are fancied to make a huge splash next season, and no doubt Lane Kiffin will be fueled by the passing of his mentor and father to aspire to new heights.