Oregon Ducks head football coach Dan Lanning made headlines earlier this offseason after he turned down the open Alabama job. Lanning’s decision to stay at Oregon gave Duck fans a reason to believe and more this year after dealing with several abrupt exits in the past.
Oregon didn’t have a repeat of the Mario Cristobal saga, nor did they have a one-year wonder like with Willie Taggart. The Chip Kelly scenario of 2012 didn’t play out either.
Lanning has made it clear he wants to be in Oregon. The Ducks are still pursuing their first football National Championship, and Lanning may be the right guy for the job.
This week, the Oregon coach spoke to Big Ten Network as the Ducks officially prepare to join the conference next month. During that interview, Lanning waxed poetic about his job and why he doesn’t feel compelled to depart.
“It has everything I’ve ever wanted,” Lanning told BTN. “As much for anything, my family. We’ve been in a lot of different spots. It’s great to have continuity and being at a place where you feel you can accomplish all your goals. There’s some goals I haven’t accomplished yet that I feel indebted to the people who helped me get me here that I want to accomplish.”
Lanning said he’s “really proud of” this group’s handling of business on the field and conduct off the field.
The Oregon coach discussed a lot more during that interview, and what’s clear is his drive to take Oregon to uncharted waters. So far, the groundwork has been laid. It’s soon time to see the results.
About Chris Novak
Chris Novak has been talking and writing about sports ever since he can remember. Previously, Novak wrote for and managed sites in the SB Nation network for nearly a decade from 2013-2022