Oregon announces two new additions to player development staff
Dan Lanning has made two more significant additions to his Oregon staff.
Late Saturday, in a Tweet from the program’s Twitter account, UO announced the hires of two player development staffers. Osman Kamara has joined the Ducks as director of player development, and Karl Holmes will serve as assistant director of player development.
Neither of those titles were offically listed on Oregon’s 2022 staff roster.
A former safety at West Virginia who played in 43 career games, Kamara joins the Oregon staff after previously working as the Mountaineers’ associate director of student-athlete enhancement.
“We are a resource for our student-athletes to ensure they are setting themselves up for success on and off the field,” Kamara wrote in a press release. “We develop our student-athletes leadership skills, discipline, accountability, character, and life skills.
“These young men are investing in our program as well as themselves to obtain a future of high achievement. We’re developing the man and the athlete, preparing them for life and a professional career. That is our standard.”
According to Holmes’ LinkedIn profile, he holds a Bachelor of Science in sports leadership from Grand Valley State University and a Masters in Business Administration from Grand Canyon University.
“Player development is the most important work within a program. We engage and equip young men with valuable life tools that will prepare them for life post-football through career development, community service, outreach, leadership development, and personal enhancement and responsibility,” Holmes wrote. “The impact is greater than the scoreboard or stats, they have to feel you’re a part of them and they’re a part of you,” he wrote in the release.
The additions of Kamara and Holmes are the latest amidst a busy offseason for Lanning.
Former offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Kenny Dillingham left to become Arizona State’s head coach in November.
In December, Ducks’ co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach Matt Powledge left to become Baylor’s defensive coordinator.
Oregon replaced Dillingham with former UTSA offensive coordinator Will Stein. Last month, the University announced that it has hired former Tulane defensive coordinator Chris Hampton to fill Powledge’s role.
Earlier this month, A’Lique Terry joined the Ducks’ staff as the program’s offensive line coach following the departure of Adrian Klemm, who left to join the New England Patriots staff.
“I think as a coach you always have to be prepared for a transition, especially when you’re successful,” Lanning said in December when asked about potential coaching departures. “When you talk about having a staff reach their goals and aspirations, you want to be able to create those opportunities and you have to be prepared for those moments.”
