Florida athletic director Scott Stricklin introduced Jon Sumrall as the school’s next football coach on Monday. After this announcement, Stricklin addressed the media, focusing on the recruitment of Lane Kiffin, who opted not to accept the position with Florida. Stricklin acknowledged that while their discussions were fruitful, Kiffin decided to become the new head coach at LSU shortly after Sumrall’s introduction.

Stricklin stated, “He’s a fascinating guy, and I respect his decision.” He expressed uncertainty on why Kiffin declined the Gators’ offer but maintained that their conversations were constructive.

Additionally, Stricklin refuted claims that he and Kiffin did not get along during the interview process, citing misinformation surrounding the coaching search. “There’s a lot of twisted information and a lot of people trying to create narratives that benefit themselves,” he added, highlighting Kiffin as a notable candidate in their search.

In a related note, CBS Sports journalist John Talty reported on the tumultuous interactions between Florida and Kiffin, emphasizing on the insistence of having a general manager reporting directly to the head coach as part of the school’s hiring process. Ultimately, Kiffin chose not to take the role at Florida, leaving Stricklin pleased with Sumrall as coach following another successful season at Tulane.

Stricklin concluded, “I’m really happy with where we are. I wish him the best. I wish all the schools involved the best, except when we play them.”