Report: Lane Kiffin had offer to be UCLA's offensive coordinator

Before UCLA promoted running backs coach Kennedy Polamalu to offensive coordinator earlier this week, Bruins head coach Jim Mora reportedly offered the position to a more high-profile target: Lane Kiffin.

According to ESPN’s Brett McMurphy, Kiffin, the offensive coordinator at Alabama, turned down the offer “in the days leading up to” the Crimson Tide’s win over Clemson in the College Football Playoff National Championship.

After Kiffin was fired as head coach of USC in 2013, Mora said on The Dan Patrick Show that Kiffin is a guy who he would like to hire if possible. Mora previously coached alongside Kiffin’s father, Monte, with the New Orleans Saints.

“(Lane) is a friend of mine. His dad had a tremendous influence on my defensive philosophies. I don't have a position on my staff," Mora said in October 2013. "I love my staff. I've got Noel Mazzone as my offensive coordinator. In my opinion, he's one of the best in the business. If there's ever a situation where Lane was available and he was interested and there was a position available, he's a guy I think anyone would want to consider.

"He's [Kiffin] a good football coach. He's a really good playcaller. I've had to try to scheme up against him on defense, and when he's got the quarterback he thinks can make it happen for him, he's tough to defend because he's not predictable. He gives you wrinkles, and he sets you up, and he's a good playcaller."

Kiffin was hired by Alabama before the 2014 season and helped the Tide win the national title as offensive coordinator and play-caller this season. Meanwhile, Mazzone left UCLA earlier this month to take the offensive coordinator job at Texas A&M.

With the promotion of Polamalu, Mora said in a press release Wednesday that he plans to move toward a “multifaceted offense incorporating tight ends and fullbacks into our schemes” moving forward.

For more Alabama news, visit TideSports.com.

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Sam Cooper is a contributor for the Yahoo Sports blogs. Have a tip? Email him or follow him on Twitter!

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