Mayor Scott Singer presented FAU head football coach, Lane Kiffin, with the coveted key to the City of Boca Raton on Tuesday, May 8 at the Business of Sports Luncheon hosted by the City’s Office of Economic Development. “The City is proud to recognize the achievements of the FAU football program, on and off the field. Coach Kiffin positively impacted student athletes and raised the profile of the program, the University and our community with his impressive coaching and communications,” commented Mayor Singer.
Kiffin is one of only three major sport influencers that holds key to the City. Past sport icon recipients include Mark Richt, University of Miami head football coach and Kristy Welchel, former professional soccer player. Kiffin received the key for turning around FAU’s football program since his hire in 2016, leading him to be named the 42nd Annual Palm Beach County Sports Commission Coach of the Year in March.
The event provided guests insight into the business of sports with a panel discussion related to coaching, franchise ownership, organization management, education and social media impact. Along with Kiffin, the panel included George Linley, Executive Director of Palm Beach County Sports Commission; Dr. James Riordan, Ph.D., Director of FAU MBA- Sport Management program; Cliff Viner, Former General Partner, Chairman and Governor of the Florida Panther’s Hockey Franchise.
The event was held at FAU Stadium in the Acura Club and sponsored by FAU Athletics Department and FAU-MBA Sport Management Program. City Council Members Andrea Levine O’Rourke and Monica Mayotte were also in attendance for the award presentation along with FAU President, Dr. John Kelly.
“This was the first panel discussion organized by our office and to have the key presented during this event certainly added to the excitement,” commented Jessica Del Vecchio, Economic Development Manager. “Coach Kiffin’s success at FAU has put Boca Raton on a national stage and we could not think of a better way to honor him than by presenting him with the key to the City.”
