Oregon coach Dan Lanning emphatically denied rumors regarding his potential candidacy for Texas A&M’s coaching opening in the wake of Jimbo Fisher’s dismissal by the Aggies.
Lanning publicly stated his intent to remain at Oregon for the foreseeable future in his weekly press conference Monday.
“Everything I want exists right here,” Lanning said. “I’m not going anywhere. There’s zero chance I will be coaching somewhere else. I’ve got unfinished business here. There’s a lot I want to accomplish here at Oregon. My No. 1 priority is being elite here at Oregon.”
Fisher was fired Sunday morning, hours removed from a 51–10 victory over Mississippi State and 10 games into his sixth season in College Station. Lanning has been mentioned among several coaches as potential candidates for the opening.
Although some coaches use interest from other schools as a bargaining chip for a raise and contract extension at their current job, Lanning clearly stated he isn’t interested in doing that to the Oregon administration.
Dan Lanning completely shuts down any rumor of him leaving Oregon.
— Matt Prehm (@MattPrehm) November 14, 2023
"I'm not concerned about getting a better contract. I'm taken care of extremely well here. ...I am not motivated by that. I am motivated by winning. I am motivated by being elite here." pic.twitter.com/HX3qjq8OiA
“A lot of coaches hang on to these moments and 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, right? 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. … I’m not motivated by that.”
After going 10-3 in his first year in Eugene last season, Lanning has the Ducks in the thick of the College Football Playoff conversation in his second year at the helm. Oregon is 9-1 on the season and 6-1 in Pac-12 play, with its only loss coming on the road at Washington in October. With two weeks remaining in the regular season, the Ducks and the Huskies appear to be on a collision course to meet again in the Pac-12 title game, which could determine a CFP berth.
Lanning says he has no interest in being a distraction to his team as it chases a national championship, and if taken at his word, has no interest in leaving Eugene for College Station to become the next coach at Texas A&M.
Oregon plays at Arizona State (3-7, 2-5) on Saturday at 4 p.m. ET.
