Will Dan Lanning be the coach in the College Football Playoff? Georgia Defense Coordinator takes job in Oregon
Dan Lanning has helped lead Georgia’s defense to the top of college football. Oregon hopes he’s ready to take on and lead the entire show.
Lanning is expected to become Eugene’s next head coach, replacing Mario Cristobal, who left to fill a coach vacancy in Miami (Fla.), Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported on Saturday.
The college football world has had a wild walk on the coaching carousel since the final week of the regular season, with the likes of Lincoln Riley and Brian Kelly leaving their schools for new shows. . Georgia will now be tasked with finding a new defense coordinator for the 2022 campaign.
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But will the Bulldogs have to start their search before the Orange Bowl on December 31, when they face Michigan in the College Rugby Round?
Will Dan Lanning coach in the CFP?
There are a number of caretakers at the helm this season, but Georgia won’t have to worry about replacing Lanning.
Georgia head coach Kirby Smart said in a statement Saturday that Lanning will train the Bulldogs against the Wolverines, though he noted that Glenn Schumann and Will Muschamps will act as co-defensive coordinators.
“We are so happy for Dan and his family. He and (his wife Lanning) Sauphia have been an important part of our Bulldog family for the past four years, and we thank them for everything they do. what they have done for Georgia Football and the Athens community. An opportunity like this is a testament to a successful program,” Smart said in the statement. “Dan and I are both looking forward to preparing for the CFP.”
Under Lanning, Georgia had the nation’s best scoring defense with 9.5 permits per game and its defensive totals second behind Wisconsin with 253.2 allowed points per game.
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Lanning has been the Bulldogs outfield coach since 2018. Georgia added a defensive coordinator to its assignment in 2019.
Smart was in a similar position in 2015, when, as Alabama’s defensive coordinator, he was offered the job as head coach at Georgia. Smart coached the Crimson Tide in the College Soccer League despite being announced as the new Bulldogs coach. Alabama went on to win the national championship, defeating Michigan State 38-0 in the Cotton Bowl and Clemson 45-40 in the title match.
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Who will coach Oregon in the Duck’s bowl game?
Lanning will probably stick around Athens, but Cristobal has arrived in Miami.
Oregon announced that Bryan McClendon, the team’s passing game coordinator and wide field coach, will be the interim coach for the Valero Alamo Bowl. Duck number 14 will play number 16 Oklahoma on December 29.
“We appreciate that Coach McClendon has agreed to accept a leadership role in providing the best possible experience for our student-athletes,” Oregon athletic director Rob Mullens said. “His previous experience as interim head coach has been invaluable to our program as we prepare for the Alamo Bowl and we are grateful that he is willing to continue and take on this responsibility for Oregon football.”
McClendon was Georgia’s interim coach for the 2016 Tax Slayer Bowl, shortly before Smart took over the program.
