Tosh Lupoi opens up on Dan Lanning's ability to fight through adversity

Oregon defensive coordinator Tosh Lupoi is learning how to establish a culture of resilience straight from his new head coach. That’s right, freshly hired Ducks football coach Dan Lanning doesn’t let adversity steer him off the path. When the going gets tough, Lanning gets tougher. Take that directly from his assistant Lupoi, who at a recent media gathering spoke on how Lanning is able to back up the culture he preaches to his players.

Eugene, Oregon isn’t the first rodeo for Lupoi and Lanning. They both spent time at Alabama a number of years ago buried deep in the sidelines as peripheral assistants. But now the defensive-minded duo meet back up in the upper northwest corner of the continental United States. These two go several years back.

So Lupoi and Lanning know each other fairly well. Which means Lupoi has been front and center as Lanning had to deal with his wife, Sauphia, developing cancer in her leg via a golf-ball-sized tumor. The ensuing medical treatment and recovery process was exhausting for the Lanning family.

However, Dan Lanning only became stronger due to the whole experience. The adversity never broke him. Which is a hallmark of Lanning’s character, per Lupoi.

“I think, you know, Dan is someone that embraces adversity, right,” said Lupoi. “And truly is a So What? Now What? type of individual, you know.”

“That he’s been through a lot. There’s been times of humble beginnings. And it’s an awesome story, so I think you see that every day in him. You know, that he truly does believe and back up his words. And every day when he talks about demands, what he wants from out staff, that he’s living that as well right there with you.”

According to Tosh Lupoi, Lanning sets a standard that he himself also meets.

“That’s always awesome when you have a head coach that’s right in the fire with you. I think that shows every day, you know, the adversity that he’s overcome from the past. It comes out every day, he demands a lot out of the payers and the staff. And, ultimately, that creates the culture that I want to sign up for.”

Oregon football: building a strong culture on the back of its head football coach.