Dan Lanning once shared biggest learnings from his coaching mentors before taking over Oregon's top job

The Oregon Ducks, led by coach Dan Lanning, firmly established themselves as a contender with an outstanding 32-31 win over the Ohio State Buckeyes in week 7. The Ducks are considered heavy favorites for the Big Ten championship game and a spot in the expanded 12-team college football playoff.

In an Oct. 2023 episode of the "Next Up" show with host Adam Breneman, Lanning revealed the biggest lessons he learned from his coaching mentors, Todd Graham and Mike Norvell (28:40).

First, he described his relationship with Graham, under whom he was a graduate assistant in 2011 for the Pittsburgh Panthers.

"Passion. I mean, every single day, this guy (Graham) came to work with juice and energy and he's hands-on, wanted to be involved in everything, in every facet of the program he touched," Lanning said.

"I thought he was also one of the best at creating clear, concise message and spark, he brought a spark."

Next, he described what made coach Mike Norvell a good coach and revealed how helpful the Florida State coach was to him and his family when his wife, Sauphia Lanning, got diagnosed with cancer. Lanning was the outside linebackers coach and recruiting coordinator under Norvell for the Memphis Tigers in 2015.

"Extremely impressive mind," Lanning said. "He (Norvell) was the guy that time that Sauphia got sick and he cares, he cares about people. He wouldn't let me come to work when Sauphia was first diagnosed with cancer, he hired a sitter for our family and he wouldn't let me come to work.

"So he had somebody help us like making meals, I think that speaks to Mike's heart. But going against him on game day and during practice, every day like this guy is super innovative from his schematic standpoint. Able to adapt. I think he utilizes his personnel really well and again work ethic, the guy works extremely hard."

How Dan Lanning received his 'doctorate' in football

During an episode of the "Joel Klatt Show," Dan Lanning said he received most of his tips about being a college football coach from the setup that Nick Saban had at Alabama. Lanning was a graduate assistant in Tuscaloosa under the retired coach in 2015.

"For me when I went to Alabama that's when I got my doctorate in football," Lanning said. "Coming in I thought I knew a lot and realized how much I didn't know. Learning from Nick every single day was great for me."

"Whether it's running an organization, schematically, the work ethic required. It was a great step for me in my career to be around some phenomenal coaches on that staff. His consistency, the sun's gonna rise and at 7:25 in Tuscaloosa, Nick Saban's gonna be walking into that office."

Dan Lanning has established himself as one of college football's top coaches, and his Oregon Ducks team has long been regarded as one of the best in the nation.