How Dan Lanning plans to handle Oregon job, College Football Playoff

Before 35-year-old Dan Lanning takes over the Oregon football program full-time, he has some unfinished business in the Southeast. 

Lanning has vowed to remain the defensive coordinator at Georgia, a position which he has held since 2019, as the Bulldogs head to their second College Football Playoff. He will coach them in the Orange Bowl, and should Georgia win, he will accompany them to the national championship against the winner of the Alabama-Cincinnati Cotton Bowl. 

In his introductory press conference in Eugene, Lanning spoke about how he plans to handle head coaching responsibilities on the West Coast while preparing a defense for the postseason on the East Coast.

“I’m willing to negotiate for some more hours in the day. We’re running out of hours,” Lanning said with a smile. “First off, I’ll say there’s tremendous support here at the University of Oregon. I’m fortunate that there’s tremendous support there at Georgia for this approach. I feel like I owe it to our players there and excited to be a part of that process. The College Football Playoff is certainly unique, but you just work. And that’s the only thing I know how to do is roll up my sleeves and work.”

Lanning added he landed in Eugene around noon PT on Sunday, and he immediately asked athletic director Rob Mullens how quickly he could get to the office to meet his new players. 

The team is preparing for an Alamo Bowl appearance against Oklahoma, who also has a defensive-minded rookie head coach in Brent Venables. However, due to Lanning’s Georgia commitments, passing game coordinator and wide receivers coach Bryan McClendon will serve as the Ducks interim coach for the bowl game.

Early Signing Day approaching for rookie head coach

In addition to meeting his new players and the playoff, the first-time head coach will also have responsibilities related to Early Signing Day, which is Wednesday, Dec. 15. The Oregon 2022 class is currently ranked No. 14 by On3, with 12 total commitments. Ten of the players are four-star recruits, while two are three-star prospects. 

Their highest ranked recruit is receiver Tetairoa McMillan, who is the No. 2 recruit in the state of California according to the On3 Consensus Rankings. It will be crucial for Lanning to continue to land high-level California players, as former head coach Mario Cristobal’s success was heavily dependent on high schoolers from the state given Oregon is not a recruiting hot bed.