Petre Thomas-Imagn Images

Lane Kiffin Has Three-Word Message for Ole Miss Guard Sean Pedulla

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Levi Dombro | Last updated Apr 2, 2025 2:04 PM ET

Lane Kiffin has been the face of Ole Miss athletics since he accepted his job as the head football coach before the 2020 season. Not only has he returned the Rebels to prominence in the college football landscape, but he has also been an ambassador for the university during his tenure.

When Chris Beard became the men's basketball coach and took the Rebels to the Sweet 16 in his second year on campus, Kiffin was seemingly always the first person to congratulate him on his achievements. Guard Sean Pedulla was a big part of the basketball team's success this season, and on Monday, Kiffin sent a message to him on X.

"Love this guy!!!" wrote Kiffin.

Pedulla made quite an impact in his lone season as a Rebel, serving as the key catalyst for Ole Miss as they made their first NCAA Tournament Regional Semifinal in over two decades. He was a Third-Team All-SEC honoree and also earned his way onto the South Regional All-Tournament Team in March Madness.

Kiffin will have an opportunity to match Pedulla and the men's basketball team's success this fall when they kick off their season on August 30 against Georgia State. The team will look a lot different this year as 18 starters from last season are either in the NFL Draft pool or the transfer portal, so Kiffin and his staff will have to lean on a plethora of newcomers. However, as Pedulla proved, new blood can change everything.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: