Florida Gators' Jon Sumrall Reveals Strong Friendship With LSU Football's Lane Kiffin

The two coaches have an open line of communication as they take on new roles in the SEC.

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

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Newly hired Florida Gators head coach Jon Sumrall has revealed that he has a strong friendship with new LSU Tigers head coach Lane Kiffin. The two coaches have been in communication as they both took on new roles in the Southeastern Conference this offseason, with Kiffin leaving Ole Miss for LSU and Sumrall departing Tulane for Florida.

Why it matters

The Southeastern Conference has seen a significant amount of coaching turnover this offseason, with Kiffin and Sumrall being two of the high-profile hires. Their friendship and open communication provide an interesting dynamic as they prepare to compete against each other in the SEC.

The details

Sumrall said that he and Kiffin have had an open line of communication for a while, and that they talked multiple times in November as they were both going through the coaching search process. Sumrall joked that Kiffin "co-signed" on him taking the Florida job, though Sumrall clarified that they did not actually agree on where each other should go. Sumrall also shared that Kiffin's father, Monty Kiffin, made a lasting impact on him when Sumrall was a first-time head coach at Troy in 2022.

  • In November 2025, Sumrall and Kiffin had multiple conversations as they were both going through the coaching search process.
  • In 2022, when Sumrall was the head coach at Troy, Monty Kiffin, the father of Lane Kiffin, came to Sumrall's locker room after a game against Ole Miss and made a lasting impression on the young coach.

The players

Jon Sumrall

The new head coach of the Florida Gators, who previously served as the head coach at Tulane.

Lane Kiffin

The new head coach of the LSU Tigers, who previously held the same position at Ole Miss.

Monty Kiffin

The father of Lane Kiffin, who made a lasting impression on Jon Sumrall when Sumrall was a first-time head coach at Troy in 2022.

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What they’re saying

“We didn't agree that I should take this job, but we did talk. Lane and I have a good relationship. Lots of respect for Lane. He's had great success, most recently at Ole Miss. He and I have had an open-line of communication for a while.”

— Jon Sumrall, Head Coach, Florida Gators (si.com)

“In my first game as a head coach (Troy in 2022), we played at Ole Miss. [Kiffin's father Monty], postgame, came over and spent some time with me in our locker room and that connection was real for me.”

— Jon Sumrall, Head Coach, Florida Gators (si.com)

What’s next

As the offseason continues, Sumrall and Kiffin will prepare to face off against each other in the Southeastern Conference, with their friendship and open communication providing an interesting dynamic.

The takeaway

The friendship and open communication between new Florida Gators head coach Jon Sumrall and new LSU Tigers head coach Lane Kiffin is a unique storyline as the Southeastern Conference undergoes significant coaching changes ahead of the 2026 season.