Ducks Attack Message Board Forum

Probably time to come up with some names to fill the open OC position.

Here's my initial list in no particular order:
- Wake Forest OC Rob Ezell
- Houston OC Slade Nagle
- Pittsburgh OC Kade Bell
- Memphis OC Kevin Decker
- Florida OC Buster Faulkner
- Northwestern OC Chip Kelly
- FSU HC Mike Norvell
- BYU OC Aaron Roderick
- Former OSU/MSU HC Jonathan Smith
- Former Maryland HC Mike Locksley
- Oregon State OC Mitch Dahlen

Some additional names:
- Arizona OC Seth Doege
- UCLA OC Dean Kennedy
- SJSU OC Craig Stutzmann
- Texas State OC Landon Keopple
- Illinois OC Barry Lunney Jr.

I don't get the timing of this. It seems very doubtful that somebody from a top program is just going to leave mid-season to preside over a team that needs an overhaul in the midst of a surprisingly long streak of games without a bye. Meanwhile, can Lanning go without an OC the whole rest of this season? Can he call the plays himself, being more experienced on the defensive side of the ball? It seems like the 'experiment' is going to continue awhile longer unless somebody from a less established position comes.

Would any former Duck players fill the position for the remainder of the season? Barner? Who?

Now is better than later. You need to hire a coordinator before the early signing, which starts on December 2. Coaches may not leave their teams midyear, but that doesn’t mean they still don’t want the job. Oregon just needs to let the recruits know who is hired before the early signing and the current players on the team before the transfer portal opens.

rockthief wrote: Sun Oct 25, 2026 1:25 pm Would any former Duck players fill the position for the remainder of the season? Barner? Who?

I was thinking if it was April Fools, now would be a great time for this:

REPORT: Mark Helfrich Set to Return to Oregon as Offensive Coordinator Following Drew Mehringer’s Departure

Oregon is reportedly targeting former head coach Mark Helfrich to lead the Ducks’ offense in a major shake-up to Dan Lanning’s coaching staff.

Oregon could do way worse than Helfrich as an interim OC. He was at minimum good as an OC, Just a failure as a head coach.

Now is better than later.

This. It was time to say goodbye. And let's be real, if we lose the rest of our games it won't be because we lost Coach Meh. Replacing his results won't be hard. That's like worrying about your finger when your arm's been cut off.

If Jonathan Smith wants to get back into coaching then I'd think Oregon's OC position would be ideal for him. Lanning will have have more options after the season though. The position should be highly coveted.

Phalanx wrote: Sun Oct 25, 2026 1:00 pm I don't get the timing of this. It seems very doubtful that somebody from a top program is just going to leave mid-season to preside over a team that needs an overhaul in the midst of a surprisingly long streak of games without a bye. Meanwhile, can Lanning go without an OC the whole rest of this season? Can he call the plays himself, being more experienced on the defensive side of the ball? It seems like the 'experiment' is going to continue awhile longer unless somebody from a less established position comes.

It gives Lanning a finger to point at, for such a miserable season. Without someone to dump the blame on, why would future recruits/transfers want to come here? Plus maybe Jay Johnson can do a better job in the short term.

Boom wrote: Sun Oct 25, 2026 6:43 pm If Jonathan Smith wants to get back into coaching then I'd think Oregon's OC position would be ideal for him. Lanning will have have more options after the season though. The position should be highly coveted.

Bonus here is that the Beavs melt down if this happens.

UOducksTK1 wrote: Sun Oct 25, 2026 7:30 pm
It gives Lanning a finger to point at, for such a miserable season. Without someone to dump the blame on, why would future recruits/transfers want to come here? Plus maybe Jay Johnson can do a better job in the short term.

Absolutely. I was just thinking how funny it is that Don Pellum can be the linebacker coach for so many years and then try his hand at DC and then instead of going back to linebacker coach, he is fired. But you are right, the people demand a head on a pike in the town square, and if it isn't an underling, then it's the head coach's head next. This probably goes for the locker room as well.

Phalanx wrote:

UOducksTK1 wrote: Sun Oct 25, 2026 7:30 pm
It gives Lanning a finger to point at, for such a miserable season. Without someone to dump the blame on, why would future recruits/transfers want to come here? Plus maybe Jay Johnson can do a better job in the short term.

Absolutely. I was just thinking how funny it is that Don Pellum can be the linebacker coach for so many years and then try his hand at DC and then instead of going back to linebacker coach, he is fired. But you are right, the people demand a head on a pike in the town square, and if it isn't an underling, then it's the head coach's head next. This probably goes for the locker room as well.

Pellum did go back to LB coach when Hoke became the DC, but the LB’s continued to play terribly.


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I guess it was both. He did go back for one year and then they did not renew him. In any case, it's a funny thing to say 'Drew has been an important part of the team since 2022', while at the same time firing him instead of restoring him to the job he was apparently more effective in or some similar position group gig if his old one is taken. I wonder if he regrets being promoted now.

Phalanx wrote: Sun Oct 25, 2026 11:18 pm I guess it was both. He did go back for one year and then they did not renew him. In any case, it's a funny thing to say 'Drew has been an important part of the team since 2022', while at the same time firing him instead of restoring him to the job he was apparently more effective in or some similar position group gig if his old one is taken. I wonder if he regrets being promoted now.

That may have been Drew's decision. He didn't appear to quit so maybe he felt he was done wrong for whatever reason by being told he couldnt be OC anymore. And I can't imagine not regretting the promotion, this sure seems like a career ender in terms of future OC or HC opportunities.

Would Musgrave be on the list?