"Can’t tell you how much he’s done for my career" - Dan Lanning on Alabama HC job opening after Nick Saban's retirement

Earlier, many in the college football world wondered who the next coach for Alabama Crimson Tide would be. Some speculated it might be Dan Lanning, who had previously worked with the legendary Nick Saban.

But the Oregon Ducks coach has said he did not want to leave Oregon for Alabama. He added that he was focusing solely on Oregon football and did not want to think about anything else.

Lanning recently broke his silence on the Alabama head coach job opening now occupied by coach Kalen DeBoer. Lanning also talked about Saban and his influence.

“It was never really a thought in our mind,” said Lanning on The Ryen Russillo Podcast on Friday. “I love Coach Saban and, gosh, I can’t tell you how much he’s done for my career and where I’m at. But I think we can make Oregon the best job in college football, and that happens with focusing on where we’re at.”

“I made a commitment to players," he added. "I’m committed to being here. To put my focus on something else other than Oregon football, that’s gonna be a distraction to us to accomplishing that goal.”

Dan Lanning navigated roster turmoil with precision

Dan Lanning, head coach of the Oregon Ducks

A former Alabama graduate assistant who has occupied the Oregon Ducks head coach role for two seasons, Lanning boasts a 22-5 record. Amidst the Pac-12 decline, Ducks shifted to Big Ten, with Lanning steering the team through roster upheaval into a new era.

According to 247Sport's database, 34 players from Oregon chose to enter the transfer portal after the 2022 season.

Oregon strengthened their team and secured Dillon Gabriel from the transfer portal to replace their departing quarterback, Bo Nix, who is heading to the NFL. Further, Jabbar Muhammad, a former cornerback for the Washington Huskies, has announced his commitment to playing for Oregon.

Muhammad could choose between two highly regarded programs, the Texas Longhorns and the Alabama Crimson Tide, but ultimately picked the Ducks.

Another player who joined the team is Brandon Johnson, a defensive back from Duke University. On Jan. 17, Oregon also gained the commitment of Evan Stewart, the top-ranked wide receiver in the 2024 transfer portal.

The college football transfer portal opened on Dec. 4, allowing players to enter until Jan. 2, 2024.