Dan Lanning excited for Oregon's future through move to Big Ten

August 4th will go down as a historic day in college football history. That’s when the Oregon Ducks and Washington Huskies officially decided to pack their bags, leave what was known as the Pac-12, and join the Big Ten Conference. On Saturday evening, the Oregon Twitter page finally let fans know what Ducks’ head football coach Dan Lanning’s thoughts were on his team’s move to the Big Ten.

“Well, first off, our players are really excited about that,” Lanning began. “I mean, I think it’s an exciting opportunity for us. We talk about what are we looking for at this University and the way we recruit on a national level, multiple time zones. Playing against the best of the best. That’s something our guys are really, really excited about.

“Obviously, it’s not really our focus right now. We’ve got an entire season to play. This is about the 2023 season. It’s what we need to attack. But I think that creates a unique student-athlete experience for our guys moving forward. And it certainly sets us up. Really appreciate Rob, administration, all the people at the top that did a great job looking out for the future of Oregon. I think that really protects us.”

For more on Lanning and the contract extension he recently signed with the Ducks, check out this article from On3’s Griffin McVeigh.

Dan Lanning signed a new contract extension

Dan Lanning might be entering his second season with Oregon but the two sides already have a long-term commitment to one another. The Ducks signed Lanning to a contract extension recently, keeping him in Eugene through the 2028 season. An impressive move for the program.

From the moment Lanning came over from Georgia, he made things clear. He wanted to be the head coach at Oregon and to this day, he cannot believe the opportunity is ahead of him. Being able to lock down his future in a place he loves was a big deal for Lanning.

“As you coach, all you really want to focus on is being at a place where you can win and raise your family,” Lanning said. “Since the day I got here, it’s been no secret I wanted to be here. I’m thrilled about the opportunity that was given to me to become the head coach at Oregon. It means a lot to me, I never take it for granted. Wake up every morning and I pinch myself.”

But more than anything, deciding to commit his future to Oregon came down to family. Lanning has done a lot of moving over the years, bouncing around as an assistant. Staying with the Ducks allows his kids to grow up and finally have some stability.

“The love for this place and what it provides for my family in a place that they can be and have some consistency,” Lanning said. “I’ve got three kids, they’ve lived in eight states. It’s nice to be able to see them graduate from the same school.”

On3’s Griffin McVeigh also contributed to this article.