Oregon football fans have no need to fear, as Dan Lanning stated that he’s not interested in the job opening at Texas A&M.
During his weekly press conference, the Ducks’ second-year coach, when asked about speculation that he is among the leading candidates to take over the Aggies, asserted his commitment to Oregon.
“I think I’ve been really clear here since day one,” Lanning said. “Everything I want exists right here. I’m not going anywhere. There’s zero chance that I will be coaching somewhere else. I’ve got unfinished business here.”
The fact that Lanning’s name landed at the top of the list of potential coaching candidates is not surprising.
The 37-year-old has an impressive 19-4 overall record at Oregon, including a solid 9-1 this season. As the Ducks approach the Pac-12 championship game, they currently rank sixth in the College Football Playoff rankings.
As Lanning put it, “I guess the reality here is my name and our program would never be a topic of conversation for another school if we didn’t have something here that everybody else wanted. And the reason we have something here that everybody else wants, that’s because of our players, our coaches, and the support that exists here in Oregon.”
The Texas A&M job became available with the firing of coach Jimbo Fisher, who had been 45-25 in six seasons in College Station and had signed a new 10-year contract in 2021 with $95 million guaranteed. Texas A&M will have to pay more than $77 million to buy out Fisher’s deal.
Lanning has a six-year, $45 million contract extension, making him the second-highest-paid coach in the Pac-12 and approximately No. 15 nationally.
“You know a lot of coaches hang on to these moments and they don’t do anything or don’t say anything, one, because they don’t want egg on their face when they decide to do something else,” Lanning said. “Two, because they’re concerned about things that I’m not concerned about, like getting a better contract. I’m taken care of extremely well here at Oregon.”
Before Lanning, the Ducks’ last two coaches left for other jobs after brief stints in Eugene. Lanning emphasized his commitment to Oregon, saying, “I want to be here at Oregon. That hasn’t changed. That won’t change.”
Follow Chris Hansen on Twitter @chansen_RG or email at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Register-Guard: Oregon’s Dan Lanning not interested in Texas A&M football coach job
Alex Martin is your guide to the global phenomenon of football. With a focus on international leagues and tournaments, he provides match commentary, player interviews, and behind-the-scenes stories from the world of football.
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/72931262/usa_today_21973134.0.jpg "Stay Updated on Wisconsin Badgers Transfer Portal Movements for 2023-2024 Season")
