When Nick Saban When he retired from coaching in early January, many in the college football world looked to the Pacific Northwest.
Oregon head coach Dan Lanning was mentioned as a possible replacement for Saban after just two years as head coach in Eugene.
FILE – Alabama head coach Nick Saban reacts after running back Jase McClellan (2) scored a touchdown during the second half of the Rose Bowl CFP NCAA college football semifinal game against Michigan on Monday, Jan. 1 2024 in Pasadena, California. Nick Saban, the stern coach who won seven national championships and turned Alabama back into a national power that included six of those titles in just 17 seasons, will retire, according to multiple reports, on Wednesday, January 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong, File)
Lanning quickly put the rumors to rest, releasing a video stating that he wants to be in Oregon “as long as Eugene has me.”
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In a recent interview on “The Ryen Russillo Podcast,” Lanning said he never considered accepting the head coaching job in Tuscaloosa.
“No. The decision was made long before the season started, long before I took this job. Oregon took a chance on me. I truly believe this is a job where we can do the best job.” college football. And when you feel that way, let's put a little bit of blood, sweat, tears and sweat into making that the job that you think it can be,” Lanning said when asked if there was ever a time when he had to make a decision .in the Alabama opening.
Oregon Ducks head coach Dan Lanning watches during the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl college football game between the Liberty Flames and the Oregon Ducks on January 1, 2024, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. (Kevin Abele/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
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“I'm living my dream. I'm in a place where I believe we can achieve all the goals we want. I made a commitment to the players. When you sit down and people see the commitment publicly, but they don't, “You see when you sit in a couch with a family and tell them you're going to be here, what does that look like. Some coaches say that and it doesn't necessarily mean anything. “To me, that means something.”
Lanning also mentioned not moving his family again as one of the reasons he wants to stay in Eugene.
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Head coach Dan Lanning of the Oregon Ducks celebrates after defeating the Liberty Flames in the Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium on January 1, 2024, in Glendale, Arizona. The Ducks defeated the Flames 45-6. (Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
While Alabama didn't hire Lanning, they did go to the Pacific Northwest to find Saban's replacement.
He crimson tide hired former Washington coach Kalen Deboer to be Alabama's next head coach after two seasons in Seattle.
DeBoer went 25-3 in his two years in Washington, winning the Pac-12 in 2023 and leading the Huskies to the national championship game against Michigan.
