Charles Fischer

Good gosh...how can you not be impressed? Remember...for most of recent years--Georgia was not much of a destination and was not that great at recruiting. But Kirby Smart works recruiting hard as he learned (as Cristobal did) from Saban. Now Lanning has the fire too? New Oregon HC Dan Lanning Recruiting Track Record by Jared Mack of Duck Territory 247

(Official Press Release from Oregon Athletics) EUGENE, Ore. — University of Oregon athletic director Rob Mullens announced the hiring of Dan Lanning as the 35th head football coach in program history on Saturday, bringing one of college football’s brightest young coaches and top defensive minds to Eugene. Lanning will be officially introduced at a press conference at 2:00 p.m. PT on Monday in the Hatfield-Dowlin Complex. The press conference will be streamed live on the Oregon Football Twitter and Facebook pages, as well as the GoDucks YouTube page. “Dan is an outstanding, high-energy football coach who will provide a world-class experience for our football student-athletes,” Mullens said. “He is a tremendous recruiter and developer of talent, and we will continue to compete for championships while providing an environment where our football student-athletes can develop to their fullest potential in the classroom, on the football field, and as people. We are grateful for the opportunity to have Dan as the leader of our football program, and we look forward to the positive impact he will have on our student-athletes. We are excited to welcome Dan, Sauphia, Caden, Kniles, and Titan to the Oregon family!” Lanning has spent the last four seasons at Georgia, including the last three as defensive coordinator and outside linebackers coach, directing the top defense in the nation in 2021 while helping guide the Bulldogs to a 12-1 record and a spot in the College Football Playoff. In three seasons with Lanning coordinating the defense, Georgia leads the country in combined scoring defense (13.5 points per game) and rushing defense (76.7 yards per game), while also ranking No. 2 in total defense (280.6 yards per game). “I am honored and humbled to be selected to lead one of the premier programs in the nation at the University of Oregon,” said Lanning. “I want to personally thank President Schill, the Board of Trustees, athletic director Rob Mullens, and Mr. and Mrs. Knight for their trust in me. I’m excited to roll up my sleeves and get to work with our players in the pursuit of championships." “It is clear there is a vision and alignment within the entire Duck Nation. We are staged for success and look forward to building on the strong foundation that currently exists in Eugene. Our goal is to win championships and develop our players both on and off the field. I am overwhelmed with gratitude to Coach Kirby Smart and his wife, Mary Beth, and to every player, coach, staff member, and person at the University of Georgia who contributed to our success, I thank you. Go Ducks!” A two-time finalist for the Broyles Award as the nation’s top assistant coach, Lanning joined Georgia in 2018 as outside linebackers coach before being promoted to defensive coordinator. Lanning first joined the collegiate ranks as a graduate assistant at Pittsburgh in 2011, and has also had stints at Arizona State (2012-13), Sam Houston State (2014), Alabama (2014), and Memphis (2016-17). Lanning has helped the Bulldogs win three SEC Eastern Division titles (2018-19, 2021) and reach four consecutive New Year’s Six bowl games – the Allstate Sugar Bowl in 2018 and 2019, the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl in 2020, and the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic and College Football Playoff semifinal this season. Lanning’s Georgia defense leads the nation in scoring defense this season by a wide margin at an astounding 9.5 points per game, on track to become the first team since Alabama in 2011 to allow fewer than 10.0 points per game in a season. The Bulldogs are also No. 1 in the FBS in red-zone defense while ranking second in total defense (253.2 YPG), and third in both rushing (81.69 YPG) and passing (171.5YPG ) defense. Georgia also led the nation in scoring defense (12.6 PPG) in 2019, Lanning’s first year as defensive coordinator. The Bulldogs led the country in rushing defense in both 2019 (74.6 YPG) and 2020 (72.3 YPG), and they set a school record with an FBS-best two rushing touchdowns allowed in 2019. Georgia ranked third in total defense (275.7 YPG) in 2019. Lanning has coached some of the top defensive players in all of college football at Georgia. Defensive tackle Jordan Davis recently won the Chuck Bednarik Award as the best defensive player in the country and the Outland Trophy as the top interior lineman, and Nakobe Dean won the Butkus Award as college football’s best linebacker. Linebacker Azeez Ojulari led the SEC in sacks in 2020 under Lanning before going on to be selected in the second round by the New York Giants in the 2021 NFL Draft. Lanning joined Georgia after two seasons at Memphis, where he served as inside linebackers coach and recruiting coordinator. He helped the Tigers to their third 10-win season in program history and a pair of top-five national finishes in turnovers gained. In 2015, Lanning helped Alabama go 14-1 and win the College Football Playoff national championship as a defensive graduate assistant working with the linebackers. Lanning assisted a Crimson Tide defense that led the nation in rushing defense (75.73 YPG) while ranking second in scoring defense (15.1 PPG) and third in total defense (276.3 YPG). Lanning was the defensive backs coach and co-recruiting coordinator at Sam Houston State in 2014, joining the Bearkats after spending 2012 and 2013 at Arizona State. For the Sun Devils, Lanning started as a defensive graduate assistant for outside linebackers and nickelbacks before spending his second season as the on-campus recruiting coordinator. A native of North Kansas City, Mo., Lanning began his coaching career in 2008 at Park Hill South High School in Missouri, spending three seasons coaching special teams, defensive backs and wide receivers before going to Pittsburgh as a graduate assistant. Lanning spent his playing days as a linebacker at William Jewell College in Liberty, Mo., earning two Bachelor of Science degrees in physical education and secondary education in 2008. Lanning and his wife, Sauphia, have three sons – Caden, Kniles, and Titan.

Check these out inside the article... Oregon's Players React to Hiring of Dan Lanning as Ducks' Head Coach by Jared Denney of ScoopDuck

I like this article the best; good facts and some good conclusions. "Just like Mario Cristobal, Lanning is a top-tier recruiter, but he may actually be a better Xs and Os coach if he’s paired with the right offensive coordinator." Oregon Football: Three Reasons Dan Lanning is a Good Hire for the Ducks by Connor Muldowney of Autzen Zoo

I do like his takes the majority of the time, and he got me pondering on one or two points... Canzano: Oregon Ducks Take a Football Gamble on the Energy and Enthusiasm of Dan Lanning by John Canzano of OregonLive

Boy I love the resume' of success at the highest level already! Who is Dan Lanning? A Look at the Oregon Ducks' New Head Coach by Don Smalley of Ducks Wire

Yep...I can hear the gnashing of teeth all the way in Eugene. Did I hear a "damn those Ducks!" among that gnashing? When you try to keep up with Oregon...

I assume he is moving on...

Perfect. We lose McKinley and replace him with another talented, experienced safety!

Thanks, and it looks like we will not need an interim coach after all!

He is going to look much better in green...and it says he will coach Georgia in the Playoffs. Dan Lanning tabbed at Oregon by Anthony Dasher of UGASports

I think this is a fantastic hire that is going to really excite the fan base, and goodness knows...I can't wait to get Coach Boles to look at his defensive strategies!

The jump from OC or DC to head coach is quite normal in both college and the NFL...I mean, where do the head coaches come from? If you only hire head coaches...eventually they all die! Then what? Chip Kelly was OC...not at a big school, but New Hampshire before Oregon. Rich Brooks had been position coaches in the NFL and a DC at Oregon State, but never had a head coaching gig before Oregon hired him. Kirby Smart was a DC at Alabama before being the HC at Georgia, and Dabo Swinney was the Wide Receiver Coach at Clemson before being elevated! Ryan Day was OC before becoming HC at Ohio State, and that about covers a number of the top programs. I see your concerns, but when a star shines so bright...the next step up is inevitable, and the question is...with which team is it going to be with?

You are correct about Chip, and that was true of Rich Brooks as well. Coach Bellotti was a HC at Chico State before coming to Oregon to be OC.

It is WHAT WE DO!

Thank you both for reporting it to the community!

Yes....that was posted here yesterday is just a little bit down the page. My point is that there are conflicting reports, (such as that one you referenced) and at least we know for certain that he IS a candidate.

With all the stuff flying about...this article helps to clear up some of the confusion, and I'm glad to see the Ducks are after him! Report: Georgia's Dan Lanning a Candidate for Oregon HC Job Amid Conflicting Rumors by Paul Kasabian of Bleacher Report

I don't trust any beer I can see through....

And where do you live now?

Thanks. If we get a splash hire like Dan Lanning--then go with him or another that the fans will rally around and has high probability of doing well. But if we are left with the "B" list of Oregon Retreads...I believe an Interim Coach would be best for Oregon.

One of my favorite beers, Red Chair Northwest Pale Ale, from the Deschutes Brewery (Official Beer of the Pac-12) is now available! It is seasonal, from now until April to coincide with Ski Season. I've been waiting SO LONG for it and I just got my first six-pack tonight coming home from the office. Now I love Deschutes Mirror Pond Pale Ale, and my go-to is Deschutes Inversion IPA, but when Deschutes Red Chair Northwest Pale Ale is available....that's the one! There are SO MANY great craft beers in Oregon...which is YOUR favorite?

I'll second that!

My friends...the rumor is that this guy might be an OC candidate for Lanning since they worked together on other staffs. Boat-raced 48 points on St. Nick? Kenny Dillingham Wikipedia Google Information about him....

I love it when that axiom applies...thanks!