Dan Lanning on why Oregon and his response to doubters of his ability

Dan Lanning is the new head coach of the Oregon Ducks. Lanning, the defensive coordinator of Georgia’s elite defense this season, will be getting his first taste of being a head coach when he begins at Oregon.

Lanning joined SportsCenter on Friday morning, where he explained why Oregon was the right destination for him to begin as a head coach. He also joked about his previous experience in the Pac-12.

“Because I remember watching Marcus Mariota run all over me when I was at (Arizona State),” Lanning said on why he wanted to become Oregon’s next head coach. “Oregon is a premier brand. Oregon is a team that, it doesn’t matter what spot in the nation you’re at, you recognize it. For me, I never wanted to leave Georgia for anything less than a job I thought was an elite one. And this is that.”

Lanning began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Pittsburgh in 2011. He held the same role in 2012 at Arizona State, and he was also an assistant there in 2013. Lanning them had stops at Sam Houston State, Alabama, and Memphis from 2014-2017. In 2018, Lanning became Georgia’s outside linebackers coach. From 2019-2021, he served as Georgia’s defensive coordinator.

He might be getting his first experience as a head coach with Oregon, but Lanning is confident in his ability. He told his critics to sit back and watch, saying that time will tell.

“Sit back and watch,” Lanning said when asked about critics about him being ready to become Oregon’s coach. “Sit back and watch. I’m excited. This is a great opportunity. We’ve got a great group of players that I’m excited to go coach. I think time will tell.”

Lanning to Oregon is one of many Pac-12 changes at head coach

As Lanning begins his head coaching career at Oregon, he joins a number of changes across the Pac-12. Former Oklahoma head coach Lincoln Riley took the USC job. Washington state retained interim head coach Jake Dickert as its full-time head coach. Washington also hired Kalen DeBoer as the new head coach of the Huskies.

Lanning is no stranger to the Pac-12, and he knows the challenge that awaits him. But that’s not a challenge he is shying away from.

“I’m fortunate enough to be coming back to this league spending some time at Arizona State,” Lanning said. “There’s always been some premier teams here but Oregon’s certainly always been one of them that’s had my eye from a national attention from what they do and how innovative they are. I’m excited to see where this is going with the Pac-12. There’s some great football teams here. I think it’s been reinvigorated this league, and we’re going to compete at the highest level. And I know that there’s going to be some really tough games in this league that I’m excited to prepare for.”