Dan Lanning announces heâs staying at Oregon amid Alabama head coach rumors
Dan Lanning has announced he’s not leaving Oregon. The Ducks head football coach had been heavily connected to the Alabama opening after Nick Saban’s shock retirement.
“If you’re scared your coach is leaving then come play for us. The Ducks aren’t going anywhere and I’m not leaving,” Lanning said in a video he posted to his social media channels on Thursday.
Lanning, who was a GA for Saban in 2015 and worked for Kirby Smart at Georgia, was a logical candidate. Lanning’s name had floated to the top of most sportsbooks accepting odds on the new hire. Other options that have yet to rule themselves out publicly include Washington’s Kalen DeBoer and Florida State’s Mike Norvell.
In his second year at Oregon, Lanning won a Fiesta Bowl with Bo Nix. Lanning was rumored to be in Tuscaloosa on Wednesday night. Multiple outlets have since denied this, with Matt Zenitz of On3 reporting that Lanning was at home, watching a Jason Bourne movie with his family.
The Oregon team’s Twitter account had fun with the announcement, posting a photo of Lanning’s location being in Eugene, Oregon, a nod to the flight trackers fans obsess over whenever coaching hunts start.
Instead, attention will turn to who athletic director Greg Byrne will look to replace Saban with. Saban was in the team facility this morning, telling ESPN he was there to help in the “transition.”
UA athletic director Greg Byrne released a statement acknowledging his next public comments will be once a successor has been found.
“There will be plenty of rumors out there during this process,” Byrne wrote. “… If you don’t hear it from me, don’t believe it.”
This post will be updated.
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Nick Alvarez is a reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @nick_a_alvarez or email him at [email protected].