Oregon expects to hire current Ole Miss strength coach for same position

New Oregon head coach Dan Lanning continues to build his staff in Eugene, and he is reportedly looking back to his old conference for one of his most important assistant positions. 

Wilson Love, the current head of strength and conditioning at Ole Miss, is expected to be the next strength and conditioning coach at Oregon. The news was first reported by On3’s Matt Zenitz. 

Love was at Florida Atlantic with current Rebels head coach Lane Kiffin before Kiffin moved to Ole Miss. He previously was an assistant strength coach at Alabama where he also worked with Kiffin and Lanning. Love played defensive end for the Crimson Tide, graduated in 2013, and is from the Birmingham, Ala. area.

Ole Miss is shooting for their first 11-win season after hitting double-digit wins in the regular season for the first time in school history. Clearly, Kiffin and Love have had some success. They face Baylor in the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 1 to close out their 2021 campaign.

Oregon set to battle Oklahoma in Alamo Bowl

Oregon-Oklahoma on Wednesday night is quite the matchup. For several reasons.

Both programs have 10 wins, both have new coaches, both have interim coaches for the bowl, both have had what the fan base would likely characterize as a disappointing ending to 2021, and both have had their fair share of transfers and opt outs.

In other words, when the Ducks (led by Bryan McClendon) and the Sooners (led by Bob Stoops) take the field in San Antonio, it is anyone’s guess what will happen. If you’re going to bet on a game, I’d shy away from this one.

Oklahoma will be without arguably its four best defensive players, as LB Brian Asamoah, DE Isaiah Thomas, OLB Nik Bonittoand DT Perrion Winfrey have opted out; in addition, second-leading receiver Jadon Haselwood is in the transfer portal and has left. Oregon, meanwhile, will be without All-America DE Kayvon Thibodeaux, star CB Mykael Wright and leading WR Devon Williams, who also have opted out; in addition, starting CB D.J. James has entered the transfer portal and is gone. 

Oregon quarterback Anthony Brown and Oklahoma quarterback Caleb Williams have both looked fantastic at times and pedestrian at others. They will need to come out motivated to face — if nothing else — very talented defenses.

The Alamo Bowl kicks off at 9:15 p.m. ET on ESPN. The Sooners are a touchdown favorite.

On3’s Mike Huguenin contributed to this report.