Lane Kiffin's Return Is Biggest Commitment Nick Saban Will Get in 2015

While Nick Saban and his staff are out on the road luring the latest batch of 5-star recruits for the 2015 class and beyond, Saban got a commitment Saturday from someone who was well out of high school.

Saban’s biggest commitment of 2015 won’t be a quarterback, running back or defensive lineman. He does not play football and will only be on the field when he’s feeling especially emotive.

Alabama announced Saturday that offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin will return for a second season in Tuscaloosa, nearly a week after Adam Schefter of ESPN reported that Kiffin was a front-runner for the San Francisco 49ers offensive coordinator job.

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Kiffin’s return is massive for an Alabama offense that is only returning two starters from a unit that a year ago set records for total offense and had several individual players break school marks.

It ensures that Alabama will have scheme continuity as it prepares to break in a new quarterback. And it means that Saban will get to keep his offensive wizard around for at least another year, so he can focus on a defense that has a lot to fix.

“We’re very pleased and happy that Lane is going to be staying here at the University of Alabama with us,” Saban said in a UA release. “He’s done a fabulous job and is one of the finest offensive coaches in the country. He is going to have plenty of opportunities in the future and we want to continue to help him develop as a coach so when he leaves here, he’ll be in a very good situation. Our offense was extremely productive last season and we look forward to building on some of the good things we did on that side of the ball with this year’s team.”

Kiffin’s decision likely means one (or both) of two things: He never got offered the 49ers job, or he is going to get a pay raise.

ESPN and the San Jose Mercury News both reported on the interest between San Francisco and Kiffin. The job would have been closer to Kiffin’s home on the West Coast and would have been a chance for him to go back to the NFL. It seemed like a perfect move for him.

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But it’s unclear how far that process got, whether Kiffin interviewed or whether he got an offer.

In 2014, Kiffin made $680,000 coaching at Alabama, and his current contract says that he will get paid that much next year too. But it’s hard to see a raise not being in the bright coordinator’s future.

It’s not out of the realm of possibility that Kiffin could approach the seven-figure mark, especially considering defensive coordinator Kirby Smart’s $1.355 million annual pay. Last year, the highest-paid offensive coordinator was LSU’s Cam Cameron, who pulled in $1.3 million, per USA Today's coaching salary database.

He certainly proved he was worth that kind of money last season.

Kiffin inherited a first-year starting quarterback who was a converted athlete, one surrounded by a wealth of skill-position talent, and turned it into one of the top offenses in the country and the best in school history.

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Alabama’s 6,783 yards were the most ever for a Crimson Tide offense. Blake Sims broke the single-season passing yards mark, and Amari Cooper shattered nearly every career and season record in 2014.

Kiffin brought a no-huddle attack that was able to win some high-scoring affairs, most notably a 55-44 win in the Iron Bowl.

Kiffin said the following in UA’s release:

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I made a comment at the Sugar Bowl that I would be back this fall at Alabama and that is definitely the plan. This time of year, there are lots of things out there regarding other coaching opportunities, but I want to reaffirm my commitment to the University of Alabama, Coach Saban, and our team. I’m excited about what our offensive staff was able to accomplish last year, but I also think there are a lot of things we can do a better job of in terms of putting our players in the best situation to have success.

After being here for a year, I can see why this is such a special place in terms of the history, tradition, and how much football means to everyone at Alabama. I also have learned so much in the time I’ve spent with Coach Saban and really have a better understanding of what makes him the great coach that he is. I think the more time I can spend learning from him, the better coach I will be in the future.

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With Kiffin’s return, Saban and Alabama can breathe easier when thinking about the personnel overhaul happening on offense, nowhere more critical than under center.

However Saban convinced Kiffin to stick around, it was the biggest pledge he will get this year.

Marc Torrence is the Alabama lead writer for Bleacher Report. All quotes and information—including contract information and salary numbers—were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted.

Follow on Twitter @marctorrence.