So now that Lane Kiffin is not headed to UCLA to replace Noel Mazzone as the Bruins’ offensive coordinator, it’s time for the Crimson Tide fan base to breathe a collective sigh of relief.

After all, Bama is already the favorite to win the 2016 national championship despite losing Heisman Trophy winner Derrick Henry and some key defensive players to the NFL Draft and not having a clear-cut returning frontrunner at QB.

So whether Jacob Coker’s replacement turns out to be Cooper Bateman, Blake Barnett, David Cornwell or someone such as true freshman Jalen Hurts, Alabama’s offense should still be in good hands, based on the fact that Kiffin is sticking around.

RELATED: A look inside Alabama’s QB race in 2016

If he hasn’t done so already, Kiffin is developing a reputation for taking raw talent at QB and turning it into a polished product. Consider what he has done over the past two seasons. Under Kiffin’s tutelage, Blake Sims — who started his Alabama career as a running back before serving as A.J. McCarron’s backup — threw for 3,487 yards (which, coincidentally broke McCarron’s single-season school record), 28 TDs and 10 INTs in 2014.

Of course, Sims did throw a season-high 3 interceptions in Alabama’s 42-35 loss to eventual national champion Ohio State in the semifinals that season, but the Crimson Tide also led 21-6 in that Sugar Bowl and are probably still kicking themselves for blowing it.

Kiffin’s work in 2015 was even more masterful. He put Coker – who couldn’t beat out Jameis Winston at Florida State or Sims and wasn’t truly Alabama’s starting QB until after its home loss to Ole Miss – in position to pass for 3,110 yards, 21 TDs and 8 INTs as the Tide rolled to another national title.

Keep this in mind: In McCarron’s three seasons as Bama’s starting QB, he never reached 3,110 yards despite throwing to eventual NFL first-rounder Amari Cooper for two of them.

It’s true that in 2015 Henry was the focal point of the offense, but it didn’t take off until Coker settled in. What’s impressive about Bama’s offense in 2014 is that even though it was built around Cooper, who set all kinds all records with his 124-catch, 1,727-yard and 16-TD season, the Tide’s backfield also featured two players – Henry and current Jacksonville Jaguar T.J. Yeldon – who each nearly rushed for 1,000 yards.

Not only does Kiffin have to decide upon a starting QB this year, he also has to find a way to replace Henry, who rushed for an FBS-leading 2,219 yards and 28 TDs in 2015. Tide fans are ecstatic about Bo Scarbrough, but he and Damien Harris are unproven commodities. They will compete for snaps behind an offensive line that returns three starters. Plus, wideouts Calvin Ridley and ArDarius Stewart and tight end O.J. Howard are back, so whenever Alabama decides on its signal-caller, that player will have multiple weapons at his disposal.

In Kiffin’s two seasons in Tuscaloosa, his offenses have averaged more than 35 points per game behind two first-year starters at QB who helped the Tide become the only team to reach the College Football Playoff two years in a row.

With results such as these, it’s no surprise that Kiffin is back to being a wanted man, either as a coordinator or a head coach. But for now, he seems content to be Bama’s big man on offense.

“I have a great job,” Kiffin said a couple of weeks ago. “So anytime that stuff comes up, I remind myself that I have a great job with great players and a great head coach . …”

That great head coach, aka Nick Saban, raised a lot of eyebrows with his decision to bring Kiffin to Alabama two years ago. All the move has done since then is raise the Crimson’s Tide offensive game, its win total and its national-championship total.

Kiffin will never be the most likeable guy in the world. And after compiling a 35-21 record in parts of five seasons as a college head coach and just a 5-15 mark in parts of two years with the Oakland Raiders, he might never get the next job he wants.

But losing Kiffin and defensive coordinator Kirby Smart at the same time would have been a nightmare scenario for Saban.

By holding on to Kiffin, Alabama – and its fans – can keep dreaming about adding national titles as long as their head coach and offensive coordinator continue to co-exist.