It appears that one well-known candidate cannot be considered as a possible Nick Saban successor.
On Thursday, Dan Lanning reiterated his dedication to Oregon, a day after Nick Saban abruptly left his position at Alabama. The head coach of the Ducks declared in a video that he will not be leaving Eugene on his X account.
Lanning declared, “I want to stay here in Eugene for as long as Eugene will have me.” “It has everything I could ever want in one location.” People searching for opportunities and the next big thing are a bit of a problem in today’s culture. Furthermore, it’s not always the case that the grass is greener. In actuality, Eugene has incredibly lush grass.
The words “If you’re scared your coach is leaving, then come play for us” were also displayed on the screen of the video. I’m not leaving, and neither are the ducks.”
Following Saban’s retirement, many in the collegiate football community suggested Lanning as a possible successor to lead the Crimson Tide. His connections to the SEC include a year spent working for Nick Saban’s Alabama team as a graduate assistant. However, it doesn’t seem like Lanning will be moving back to Tuscaloosa.
After Mario Cristobal left for Miami in December 2021, the Ducks signed Lanning. Lanning, who had been Georgia’s defensive coordinator before coming to Eugene, had no prior head coaching experience.
However, the 37-year-old has already established himself as one of college football’s best head coaches. Under Lanning, the Ducks had a 10-3 record in Year 1 and a 12-2 record in 2023. Oregon just lost to Washington in the 2023 Pac-12 Championship Game, which meant they would not be eligible for their first College Football Playoff appearance since 2014.
According to ESPN, Lanning has a $20 million buyout option and a $52.2 million guaranteed deal with Oregon that expires in 2029.
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