Oregon announces addition of two new assistant coaches
The Oregon football program announced two new notable hires to its coaching staff on Monday.
Per the Ducks’ Twitter account, Dan Lanning has officially added Brian Michalowski as an assistant insider linebackers coach, and Mike Cavanaugh as an assistant offensive line coach.
Last week, On3’s Matt Zenitz reported that Cavanaugh was expected to join the Oregon staff.
Michalowski served as a defensive quality control analyst on Jonathan Smith’s Oregon State staff last season. Prior to his one-year stint in Corvallis, he spent three seasons as Colorado’s outside linebackers coach.
Earlier in his career, Michalowski worked alongside Lanning at two different stops. While Lanning was working as the inside linebackers coach at Memphis in 2016, Michalowski was a graduate assistant with the Tigers. In 2018, while Lanning was operating as Georgia’s outside linebackers coach, Michalowski was a defensive quality control coach on Kirby Smart’s staff.
Cavanaugh spent last season as Arizona State’s offensive line coach.
Prior to his time in Tempe, he spent three seasons as the offensive line coach at Syracuse.
His resume also includes on-field roles at Nebraska (offensive line coach, 2015-17), Oregon State (offensive line coach, 2005-14), and Hawaii (offensive line coach, 1999-2004). Prior to his time at Hawaii, Cavanaugh made college coaching stops at Ferris State, Sacred Heart, Murray State, Alma College and Wesleyan College (Conn.).
From 1997-1998, Cavanaugh worked in the National Football League as an assistant offensive line and quality control coach with the San Diego Chargers.
Cavanaugh, who played at New Haven from 1981-82, began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Albany in 1986. He received his bachelor’s degree in physical education from Southern Connecticut State the same year.
Recap of Oregon coaching changes this offseason
The additions of Michalowski and Cavanaugh to the Oregon staff are the latest in a flurry of off-season coaching staff changes.
Former offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Kenny Dillingham left to become Arizona State’s head coach in November.
In December, Ducks’ co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach Matt Powledge left to become Baylor’s defensive coordinator.
Oregon replaced Dillingham with former UTSA offensive coordinator Will Stein. Last month, the University announced that it has hired former Tulane defensive coordinator Chris Hampton to fill Powledge’s role.
Over the weekend, Oregon announced the addition of two new off-field staff. Osman Kamara has joined the Ducks as director of player development, and Karl Holmes will serve as assistant director of player development.
In mid-February, Oregon made the hire of A’Lique Terry as the program’s next offensive line coach official. In the days that followed, the Ducks also added former UCLA staffer Cutter Leftwich as an OL assistant.
“I think as a coach you always have to be prepared for a transition, especially when you’re successful,” Lanning said in December when asked about potential coaching departures. “When you talk about having a staff reach their goals and aspirations, you want to be able to create those opportunities and you have to be prepared for those moments.”
