Dan Lanning asks for support as assistant battles medical emergency

Oregon football’s director of player personnel Don Johnson suffered a heart-related medical emergency on Monday, according to The Oregonian’s John Canzano. The report says that the incident occurred during a coaches’ meeting on campus, and he remains hospitalized.

New Oregon head coach Dan Lanning took to social media on Wednesday to ask for continued thoughts and prayers as doctors continue working to treat Don Johnson.

“Asking for continued thoughts and prayers for Don Johnson and his family,” said Dan Lanning on Twitter. “Don has given so much to the University of Oregon, our Football Family, and so many others. Don is a fighter. Please continue to cover him in prayer.”

Johnson is one of the few holdovers from the previous staff to stay at Oregon with Lanning. The Oregon area legend has spend years helping develop players across the state as a high school coach and now as a college administrator.

Keeping a local staple on the staff was an important piece of the plan for Lanning and his staff as he comes from Georgia and starts recruiting in unfamiliar territory. Having a high-ranking staff member who knows the area better than most helps provide a boost as the work of building for the future begins.

More on Don Johnson emergency

According to reports from the Oregonian, Don Johnson remains hospitalized on Wednesday after being transported to Portland, Oregon on Tuesday for further treatment. Before joining the Oregon staff, he served as a long-time Oregon high school coach at several stops. After the departure of Mario Cristobal and most of his staff, Johnson remained as a holdover for Dan Lanning and the new group.

John Canzano also provided a brief note on Johnson following his report in Wednesday morning’s piece for the Oregonian. He promised within his comments to continue updating the latest on his health status as information becomes available.

“I’ve watched Johnson Jr. work over the last couple of years in Eugene,” wrote Canzano. “I’ll tell you what strikes me — players love him and people love him. Johnson Jr. is a strong advocate and a believer in young people. He’s a big voice in the room at Oregon. Will update this as I learn more. Check back.”

Exact details on the incident and further updates on Don Johnson’s heart-related emergency have not been released by the school at this time. Oregon will begin spring football this month.