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Oregon

Dan Lanning a Finalist for Coach of the Year Award

On3 imageby: Justin Hopkins12/10/24
Syndication: The Register Guard
Oregon head coach Dan Lanning yells on the sideline as the Oregon Ducks host the Maryland Terrapins at Autzen Stadium Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024 in Eugene, Ore.

As one would expect, Oregon head coach Dan Lanning is a finalist for the Eddie Robinson award. It is awarded to the top head coach in college football.

With Oregon finishing a perfect 13-0 this season, Lanning is being recognized as one of the best coaches in the country. His former offensive coordinator, Kenny Dillingham is also up for the award.

Lanning is joined by eight of his peers including: Curt Cignetti, Jeff Monken, Kenny Dillingham, Rhett Lashlee, Kirby Smart, Marcus Freeman and Shane Beamer.

Dan Lanning, Oregon: Lanning is first-time finalist after leading the Ducks to an undefeated regular season (13-0) for the second time in program history and a Big Ten championship in the program’s first year of membership. Their 9-0 conference record matches the only other Ducks team to do it, the 2010 team that played for the national title. Oregon, ranked No. 1 in both polls since mid-October, earned the top spot for the first time since 2012 and has wins over three of the CFP’s top eight seeds, including No. 6 seed Penn State last week for the Big Ten championship as Heisman Trophy finalist and Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year Dillon Gabriel threw for four touchdowns. Gabriel has re-written the Oregon record books in 2024, posting four of the top 11 single-game performances for completion percentage. Oregon, riding the nation’s longest win streak of 14, is the CFP’s No. 1 seed and will play either Tennessee or a rematch with Ohio State on Jan. 1 in the Rose Bowl. Oregon’s two previous Eddie Robinson Award winners are Rich Brooks (1994) and Chip Kelly (2010).

Official release from the FWAA President:

“Our nine Coach of the Year finalists represent everything that has defined college football in 2024: From surprise success stories like Curt Cignetti, Jeff Monken, Kenny Dillingham and Rhett Lashlee to the resurgence of South Carolina under Shane Beamer and Boise State under Spencer Danielson, to the programs with sustained excellence under Kirby Smart, Marcus Freeman and Dan Lanning,” FWAA president Andrea Adelson said. “Each coach has demonstrated an exceptional ability to get the most out of his players, and we look forward to the winner carrying on the legacy set forth by the legendary Eddie Robinson.”

“The FWAA and the Eddie Robinson family believe this is an outstanding group of finalists with a mixture of conference champions and inspiring breakthrough seasons for some teams,” said Eddie Robinson III, Coach Robinson’s grandson, along with FWAA Executive Director Steve Richardson. “The outstanding coaching jobs done by several rising coaches gives us as much depth to this field as we have ever had. The FWAA membership will have an interesting time picking a winner.”

“The Allstate Sugar Bowl is proud to work with the FWAA as the title sponsor of the annual Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Award,” said Sugar Bowl Committee President Walter Becker. “Not only do we get to recognize coaching excellence on the football field from around the country, but we also get to honor the legacy of Louisiana’s own Coach Eddie Robinson. We are looking forward to hosting this year’s Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year event next month in Atlanta.”

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