Lane Kiffin doesn’t question his decision to stay at Ole Miss. He may regret the way in which he handled coming about that decision, though.

The Rebels coach was a primary target last season by Auburn to fill the head-coaching position left vacant when the Tigers dismissed Bryan Harsin in October of 2022.

Kiffin said he “struggled” with the negative feedback he received with the way he handled the overture. Still, he had hoped fans would have concentrated on the fact that he stayed in Oxford.

“Which over time a lot of people have not done when they’ve been in similar situations, including that specific job, the Auburn job,” Kiffin told ESPN in a Friday piece.

Kiffin explained how difficult it was the navigate the coaching carousel rumors.

“We screw up all the time,” he said. “But when you think you’re doing the right thing and then you’re really criticized for it — especially by your own people — I struggled with that because I feel like I went through a decision-making process that you’re supposed to go through.

“I mean, you got to decide. It’s your life and your family’s life.”

Kiffin took his time, waiting weeks before telling the Rebels where he stood on the issue right before the final game of the season.

“I felt that it would have been a distraction to make this big statement 24 hours before the game and making it about me,” Kiffin said. “So, I thought I was doing the right thing by saying, ‘OK, I’m going to avoid making this about me, you guys go play. But just so you know, you don’t have to sit here and worry that your coach is leaving tomorrow after the game or something. I’m staying, I just haven’t made it known publicly.’”

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Mark Heim is a sports reporter for The Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Mark_Heim.