Alabama offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin in 2016

Alabama offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin talks with the media in the Peach Bowl Media Day event, Thursday, Dec. 29, 2016, at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Ga. Vasha Hunt/vhunt@al.com

Former USC quarterback Mitch Mustain said new Florida Atlantic coach Lane Kiffin has a nose for offense, but he isn't so sure about the former Alabama offensive coordinator being a head coach.

Mustain, who transferred from Arkansas to USC, told the Sun-Sentinel Kiffin was "disinterested" in coaching in 2010.

"There was nothing unique about what he did," Mustain told the Sun-Sentinel. "It just seemed to us, there was no effort for it. It was almost as if he was wholly disinterested in being the head coach. You can tell he enjoys the play-calling. He enjoys working with the offense and making that run. He was very good at it. As for the whole thing, it seemed that maybe it just wasn't really where he wanted to be."

With that said, Mustain was quick to point out the guy portrayed in the media isn't the real Kiffin.

"I think a lot of people think of him as this buffoon figure," said Mustain, who worked with Kiffin at USC for only a year. "I've heard it 10 times: 'He's spoiled. He's riding on his dad's coattails.' I can understand why that stands, but I think a lot of people don't understand that Lane Kiffin is honestly a very intelligent, very capable football coach.

"Honestly, I hope that Lane can rebuild it. In terms of his head coaching reputation, I hope he can iron it out. I hope he can come up with something that works and do a better job. I don't know. It'll be interesting."

In January, Alabama announced Kiffin would no longer be with the program as he moved onto the head job with Florida Atlantic.

Kiffin spent three seasons as Alabama's offensive coordinator, compiling a 40-3 record and making three consecutive trips to the College Football Playoffs.

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