Dan Lanning reveals message to Oregon recruits with Will Stein, Tosh Lupoi leaving Ducks

National Signing Day is here, and coaches are looking to put together the best possible classes. For the Oregon Ducks and head coach Dan Lanning, that comes with an extra challenge this season. Both coordinators Will Stein and Tosh Lupoi left to become head coaches elsewhere.

Lanning addressed the challenge with Rivals during signing day. It is, admittedly, a unique challenge. It’s also a challenge he wants to have, which is why he sends a unique message to recruits.

“That really starts before it even gets here,” Dan Lanning said. “I tell all these guys, I have my goals written on my mirror. The number one goal written on my mirror is to help my people reach their dreams and goals. Like, I get to live my dream every day, being here at Oregon. Part of that honesty with them is the one thing I can promise you is I’ll be here, as long as I win. What I can’t promise you is all these coaches will be here when you win, because guess what? I want them to reach their dreams and goals as well.”

Both coordinators have recently changed. Will Stein is set to take over at Kentucky while Tosh Lupoi is on his way to Cal. There, Dan Lanning knows they’re reaching their dreams of becoming head coaches. So, he’s happy for them and wants recruits to know he’s hoping to help them reach their dreams too.

“I think when you’re open and honest with that on the front end, you can tell them, ‘Look, I want to get you to the NFL but I want these coaches to get the same opportunity that I have and get to do.’ It creates a great opportunity for growth within your staff. It creates an opportunity for new ideas, and it creates an opportunity for new relationships,” Lanning said.

“So, I think if you’re honest from the beginning. This is my goal. I hope Will Stein gets to go become a head coach, I want to help him get there. We’ve been through this transition before. I think we proved how it worked. Worked out pretty well, going from Kenny Dillingham to Will. Guess what? The next coordinators that we hire, they’re probably going to become head coaches too. That, for me, is fulfilling as anything because when I tell you, ‘You wanna reach your dreams and goals? Look, your coaches are doing it. The players are doing it.’ We’ve had more players drafted last year than any other year in the history of Oregon football. That’s what this place is about.”

The National Signing Day team rankings can change rapidly. However, as of 12:00 p.m. EST on December 3rd, Oregon had the third-ranked class in the 2026 recruiting cycle. That includes five five-star recruits and 11 four-star recruits. So, something is working for Lanning.

“These guys are signing up for Oregon. They’re not signing up just for me, they’re not signing up just for the coaches. They’re signing up for this place, and what they believe in, and the direction we’re headed. As long as you’re being honest,” Lanning said. “You don’t tell a guy, ‘Hey, this guy’s gonna be here for the next five years with me.’ That’s never my conversation. My conversation is I’m going to help these coaches, these players, these staff members reach their dreams and goals. If you wanna reach your dreams and goals, this is a place you can do it.”

If Oregon continues to have success, replacing coordinators and dealing with recruits who want to play for specific assistants will continue to be an issue for Lanning. It’s a problem that comes with that dream job of becoming a head coach.