Dan Lanning Confirms He's Staying at Oregon Amid Alabama Coaching Search
After news broke on Wednesday that legendary Alabama head coach Nick Saban was retiring, the rumor mill quickly fired up and tied Oregon head coach Dan Lanning to the opening in Tuscaloosa.
But Lanning was quick to put those rumors to bed and reaffirmed, once again, his long-term commitment to the Oregon Football program. What made it even better for Duck fans, was that he did it in epic fashion in a video he posted to social media on Thursday morning.
When he knew the spotlight was on him, he used his platform to turn his statement into a recruiting opportunity.
"If you're scared your coach is leaving, then come play for us. The Ducks aren't going anywhere and I'm not leaving," Lanning's video stated.
Lanning coached under Nick Saban as a graduate assistant before getting his first job as a head coach at Oregon, and in his two short seasons he's solidified himself as one of the biggest names in college football and a major up-and-comer as a head coach.
This marks the second time since November that a major job in college football has opened and Oregon's head coach has stayed loyal to what he's building in Eugene, as Texas A&M fired head coach Jimbo Fisho after six seasons.
Oregon head coach Dan Lanning prepares to lead the Ducks out of the tunnel against the Washington State Cougars.
Darby Winter/Ducks Digest
Oregon head coach Dan Lanning in the 2023 Pac-12 championship game in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Darby Winter/Ducks Digest
Oregon head coach Dan Lanning hoists the 2024 Vrbo Fiesta Bowl trophy after defeating the Liberty Flames 45-6.
Darby Winter/Ducks Digest
In his two seasons leading the Oregon program, Lanning has coached the Ducks to a 22-5 overall record, with wins in both the Holiday Bowl and the Fiesta Bowl. Adding to Lanning's appeal is that he's proven to be one of the best recruiters in the sport, excelling at talent acquisition in both the high school and transfer portal ranks.
Lanning signed the No. 9 and No. 5 recruiting classes in 2023 and 2024 respectively, according to the 247Sports rankings. The latest crop of talent headed to Eugene may just be the best yet, as Lanning and the Ducks cracked the top five for the first time in program history, and inked the highest-rated class Oregon has ever seen.
The Ducks now head into the Big Ten conference with one of the best head coaches in the sport, who's continued to voice that he's in it for the long haul.
