If Oregon head coach Dan Lanning ever seriously put his hat in the ring for a job elsewhere, he would certainly be a top candidate.
Lanning, 37, is one of the best young coaches in college football and perhaps in all of sports. He's gone 25-5 in two seasons so far at Oregon and has the Ducks set up to be national championship contenders both now and in the future.
That's part of the reason he is so content at Oregon. Even when a massively high-profile job like Alabama's opened up earlier this year, he likes what he has going on in Eugene.
“I just love everything about this place,” Lanning told On3’s J.D. PicKell, speaking of Oregon. “It starts with the commitment at the top. We have really great alumni. I really enjoy working with our athletic director Rob Mullens every single day. He’s somebody that I’m able to lean on. I think that we have clear direction in where we’re headed.”
Things are changing quickly in college football and for Oregon, that means a move to the Big Ten conference. With that said, one can see why stability would be so important for a college football coach. Keep in mind, Lanning is not only a head coach, but he also has a family to consider – and Eugene has become home.
“For me, personally — my family, we enjoy living here,” Lanning said. “I have three boys that we’ve moved a good amount and it’s nice not to move. It’s nice not to pack up boxes again. When you see everything you want in a job and you have a program that you enjoy coaching, players made commitments to, that’s something you want to see through.”
If Lanning continues to coach and recruit at a high level, there is no reason why Oregon can't continue to be his dream job. In fact, even as newcomers, the Ducks should be one of the favorites to win the Big Ten next season.
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