Tag: Lanning

Oregon head coach Dan Lanning leads his team onto the field as the Oregon Ducks host the Montana State Bobcats on Aug. 30, 2025, at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon.

Dan Lanning fires back at Mike Gundy’s critique of Oregon’s roster spend

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Oregon coach Dan Lanning shot back at Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy’s insinuation the Ducks are buying their way into contention with an excessive roster budget.

“Like I said, I’ve got a ton of respect for coach Gundy,” Lanning said as the Ducks prepare for their nonconference meeting with Oklahoma State. “Ultimately, how blessed are we being at a place that’s invested in winning? If you want to be a top-10 team in college football, you better be invested in winning and we spend to win. Some people save to have an excuse for why they don’t.”

Gundy lit the fuse with comments on his radio show suggesting the Cowboys’ budget for football was pennies on the dollar compared to what Oregon spent last year alone.

“We spent around $7 million over the last three years, and I think Oregon spent close to $40 (million) last year alone,” Gundy said. “That was just one year. Now, I might be off a few million. What I’m saying is they’re spending a lot of money. There’s some schools that are doing that.”

Oklahoma State kicked off the season with a win over Tennessee-Martin last week and Oregon defeated Montana State.

Also on his show, Gundy opined college football non-conference schedules should evolve to match the times, pairing opponents based strictly on their annual football budget.

“Oregon is paying a lot, a lot of money for their team. So from a non-conference standpoint, there are coaches saying they should play teams that are spending the same amount of money,” he said.

Lanning was an outside linebackers coach at Georgia in 2018 when these two programs signed to play a home-and-home series. But he doesn’t necessarily buy that Oklahoma State wants to check receipts to confirm a level playing field.

“I can’t speak on their situation, I have no idea what they got in their pockets over there,” Lanning said. “I’m sure UT Martin maybe didn’t have as much as them last week and they played, so we’ll let it play out.”

–Field Level Media

Jul 23, 2025; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Oregon head coach Dan Lanning speaks to the media during the Big Ten NCAA college football media days at Mandalay Bay Resort. Mandatory Credit: Lucas Peltier-Imagn Images

Undefeated in Big Ten, Oregon somehow chasing redemption after playoff loss

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Oregon was perfect all the way through its first season in the Big Ten, mowing through the regular season at 12-0 and handling Penn State in the conference championship game.

Then the Ducks were dropped by eventual national champion Ohio State, 41-21, in the College Football Playoff quarterfinal at the Rose Bowl to end the season as a national afterthought to the likes of Notre Dame, Texas and the Buckeyes, a team Oregon beat in the regular season.

With a pair of trophies on display on either side of his dais at Mandalay Bay for Big Ten Media Days on Wednesday, Oregon’s coach shared his uncomfortable truth.

“I think every coach probably feels this way, but we always remember the losses over the wins,” Oregon coach Dan Lanning said at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas on Wednesday during Big Ten Media Days.

“I think there’s a lot you can learn from that. It doesn’t take away from what we were able to accomplish, but we lost to a great team. Coach (Ryan) Day did an unbelievable job last year of having his team in position to have success there. There’s some things I think I could have done better at the end.

I don’t think we played our best football. That being said, we did go undefeated in the conference and won the Big Ten Championship in our first year. That said, double down. Focus on our process. What do we have to continue to improve? There’s always learning lessons, but it doesn’t necessarily impact the future.”

The future in Eugene is bright. But success is going to be relative at Oregon, a reality Lanning has embraced and knew well from his background at Georgia, where he knows the one trophy every team wants — the national title — is the goal on constant repeat.

Marinating, and believing there is victory in the process, and avoiding the “microwave” are themes in his locker room in 2025.

Dante Moore is competing at quarterback to replace Browns third-round pick Dillon Gabriel as the maestro of a system full of skill-position weaponry. Moore said Lanning consistently reminds him and other team leaders “pressure is a privilege.” He’s locked in a duel with fellow sophomore Austin Novosad to start for the Ducks.

“I think probably what impressed me most with Dante is not wanting to be in a microwave society, not wanting to just get it fast because there’s an opportunity in front of him,” Lanning said, “but to have the slow-cooked meal, to have the opportunity to sit back and mature and learn, learn from experiences that you don’t necessarily have to be on the field to feel. The same goes for Austin. The same goes for Luke (Moga) and the other guys in our program.”

Either quarterback would be thrilled to have the security of a sure-handed and big-play tight end the likes of Kenyon Sadiq. The junior might not be a household name nationally, but no matter which iteration of Oregon uniform he’s wearing on game day, opponents are fully aware of his whereabouts.

Lanning said he played some video-game football with his son before Wednesday’s session, and Sadiq was a stud in the virtual world, too.

“I need to make sure I bring that up to our quarterbacks, throw it to Kenyon because he’s been unbelievable this offseason,” Lanning said. “Like I said, if you just see him work, it’s not a secret.”

–Field Level Media

Oregon head coach Dan Lanning sticks his tongue out to catch the rain as the No. 6 Oregon Ducks host California Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023, at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore.

Oregon’s Dan Lanning on rumored A&M interest: ‘Zero chance’

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Oregon football coach Dan Lanning halted the rumor mill connecting him to high-paying vacancies on Monday in far more certain terms than most in his position.

“I think I’ve been really, really clear here since Day 1. I’m not going anywhere,” Lanning said Monday night at his weekly press briefing. “There’s zero chance that I would be coaching somewhere else. I’ve got unfinished business here.

“There’s a lot I want to accomplish here at Oregon. My No. 1 priority is being elite here at Oregon. We have the resources, the tools — anybody that can’t understand why you would want to be here at this place doesn’t understand exactly what exists here.”

Lanning was rumored to be the top target of Texas A&M, which is on the hook for more than $75 million to buy out the remaining contract of coach Jimbo Fisher.

He was also mentioned for Mississippi State, which fired coach Zach Arnett on Monday.

“I’ll continue to say it until I’m blue in the face. I want to be here at Oregon. That hasn’t changed, that won’t change,” Lanning said.

Currently No. 6 in the CFP rankings, Oregon is 9-1 and will find out with the latest release of the playoff pecking order on Tuesday just how much work it has left to be in position to be playing in January. That matter is more likely to be decided in the Pac-12 Conference championship game against Washington if the Ducks take care of remaining games: at Arizona State this week and then vs. Oregon State in the annual day-after-Thanksgiving rivalry game.

In the meantime, other high-profile jobs are likely to become available and Lanning’s name might be mentioned. He repeated that the appeal isn’t there to entice him to depart Eugene.

“I’m taken care of extremely well here at Oregon,” he said. “I have the resources I need here at Oregon to be really, really successful. I’m not motivated by that. I’m motivated by winning. I’m motivated by being elite here. Our players deserve my complete focus. Our fans deserve the best product on the field.”

–Field Level Media

New University of Oregon football coach Dan Lanning flashes the "O" Monday after being introduced as the head coach for the Ducks in Eugene. Lanning joins the Ducks in his first head coaching job. Previously defensive coordinator for the University of Georgia (12-1), Lanning was a hot commodity around college football circles, running a Georgia defense that is arguably the best in the country. Read more in Sports, Page 1B. Eug 121321 Lanning 04

Dan Lanning receives six-year, $29.1M deal from Oregon

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The deal Dan Lanning received to become head coach at Oregon is worth $29.1 million over six seasons, plus incentives.

The university released terms of Lanning’s contract on Tuesday, two days after hiring the former Georgia defensive coordinator to replace Mario Cristobal, who left for Miami.

Lanning will earn $4.6 million in base salary in 2022 and will receive annual raises of $100,000. He will make $5.1 million in 2027, the final season of the contract.

Oregon officials said Lanning’s compensation rates fifth among Pac-12 coaches and 27th nationally.

“We are really pleased to be able to attract someone of the trajectory of Dan Lanning to lead our program,” Ducks athletic director Rob Mullens said. “Throughout the negotiations with Dan, we landed on a contract that was similar to the previous contract that we had approved before this group.”

The annual incentives include $500,000 for reaching the College Football Playoff title game and $250,000 for a semifinal appearance. Lanning will receive $150,000 for a Pac-12 championship and $100,000 for a Pac-12 North division title.

He also would receive $50,000 for national coach of the year honors and $25,000 for the Pac-12 honor.

Lanning’s buyout starts at $14 million should he depart after the 2022 season. It drops to $10 million in 2023, $7 million in 2024, $3 million in 2025, $2 million in 2026 and $1 million in 2027.

Georgia leads the nation in scoring defense (9.5 points per game) and ranks second in total defense (254.4 yards per game).

Lanning, 35, will assist Georgia through its CFP postseason run. The Bulldogs face Michigan in the semifinals on Dec. 31.

In a unique twist, Lanning’s first game as Oregon coach will be against in the Bulldogs in Atlanta on Sept. 3.

Receivers coach Bryan McClendon will serve as interim coach of the No. 14 Ducks for the Alamo Bowl matchup against No. 16 Oklahoma on Dec. 29.

–Field Level Media

8. Dan Lanning, Georgia defensive coordinator, $1,700,000 Syndication Online Athens

Oregon hiring Georgia DC Dan Lanning as new coach

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Oregon is hiring Georgia defensive coordinator Dan Lanning as its new head coach, according to multiple reports on Saturday.

The 35-year-old Lanning has been with the Bulldogs for the last four seasons, serving as defensive coordinator for the past three.

Oregon hasn’t made an official announcement but reports indicated that the players were informed of the hire on Saturday.

Regardless, Georgia coach Kirby Smart confirmed that Lanning was leaving.

“We are so happy for Dan and his family. He and Sauphia have been an important part of our Bulldog family for the last four years, and we thank them for all they did for Georgia Football and the Athens community,” Smart said in a statement. “Opportunities like this are a testament to a successful program.

“While he will coach with us for the upcoming College Football Playoff, we will move forward with Glenn Schumann and Will Muschamp as co-defensive coordinators. Dan and I are both looking forward to preparing for the CFP.”

The No. 3 Bulldogs play No. 2 Michigan on Dec. 31 in the CFP semifinals.

Lanning replaces Mario Cristobal, who departed Oregon to coach at Miami, his alma mater.

BYU coach Kalani Sitake and Cal coach Justin Wilcox were in the mix and the Ducks also reportedly asked UCLA for permission to speak to Chip Kelly, a former Ducks’ coach.

Instead, it was Lanning who got the job even though he hasn’t previously been a head coach.

He had stops at Pittsburgh, Arizona State, Sam Houston, Alabama and Memphis before landing at Georgia.

The Bulldogs had an elite defense this season but were torched 41-24 by Alabama in the SEC title game on Dec. 4.

Still, Georgia leads the nation in scoring defense (9.5 points per game) and ranks second in total defense (254.4 yards per game).

In a unique twist, Lanning’s first game as Oregon coach will be against in the Bulldogs in Atlanta on Sept. 3.

Receivers coach Bryan McClendon will serve as interim coach of the No. 14 Ducks for the Alamo Bowl matchup against No. 16 Oklahoma on Dec. 29.

Oregon (10-3) lost to Utah in the Pac-12 title game on Dec. 3 in Cristobal’s final game as coach.

–Field Level Media