“I can’t do this alone”: When Oregon HC Dan Lanning shared emotional prayers for wife Sauphia’s health during cancer treatment

Dan Lanning, the coach of the Oregon Ducks, has led his team to an undefeated regular season and a spot in the Big Ten Championship game in their first season in the conference.

However, while this year has been challenging, it is nothing compared to what Lanning has dealt with in the past.

Lanning's wife, Sauphia, was diagnosed with bone cancer when he accepted the position as the running backs coach for the Memphis Tigers in 2016.

Eight years later, in 2024, Lanning appeared on the "Bussing with the Boys" podcast to discuss his feelings during that challenging time.

"There were certainly some lows. I don’t think I ever wavered in what I wanted to be able to do. I just probably became a man of faith a lot more and got on my knees a little bit more. You know, speaking to a greater power, saying, ‘I can’t do this alone. I need this lady here with me.'”

This experience led Lanning to pray more passionately, hoping that these prayers would be answered and his wife would get better. His top priority became her well-being.

Lanning also shared how his wife's cancer diagnosis and subsequent treatment impacted his coaching career and his ability to balance family life.

“I always knew that I was going to continue to coach. I don’t think that ever shifted, but you’ve got to solve problems. You’ve got to get a sitter. You’ve got to get somebody that can kind of help out with the kids. More than anything, it probably shifts your aspirations and your focus.”

Luckily for Lanning, Sauphia was declared cancer free in 2017. A few years later, Dan would take the biggest challenge of his coaching career with the Oregon Ducks, one that he has successfully navigated.

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Dan Lanning on adapting to the Big Ten

Fast forward to 2024, and Lanning is poised to lead his team into the Big Ten Championship game against Penn State this weekend.

The Ducks have faced a few challenges this season, with the biggest one being adjusting to the Big Ten, after years of playing in the PAC-12 On Sunday, Dan Lanning discussed the challenge of playing in the Big Ten with the media.

"I think the Big 10 has always been a league that’s been identified as a physical, tough conference. And I would say every indication of what we’ve been able to experience this year has shown that it is, that it certainly matters. But I think that’s the equation to winning football.

If you want to have a winning football team, a successful football team, you have to be physical. You have to go win in the trenches. And that’s where games are really won. So it certainly holds true in this conference, but that really holds true across the landscape of college football," he said.

This has been a challenge that, as with many things that Lanning has done, he has fully embraced and executed with success. The Ducks have remained undefeated and have seamlessly transitioned to the Big Ten, quickly establishing themselves as the conference's top team.

This weekend, Lanning has the opportunity to win his first conference championship.