During his three years with the Ducks, Steen has developed a reputation as a quarterback whisperer, sending both Bo Nix and Dillon Gabriel to New York as Heisman Trophy finalists. While the 2025 finalists have not yet been announced, it is likely that Dante Moore will also receive an invitation, although he may be one of the serious contenders on the outside.
The Ducks’ offense has once again been spectacular and versatile this year under Stein, who has kept the ship afloat despite dealing with several injuries to starters over the past few months.
Now it’s time for Lanning to figure out how to replace that production.
During his time in Eugene, Lanning has achieved consistent homegrown success in the recruiting process, consistently maintaining or improving after hiring new coaches each year. So who will he turn to to fill Stein’s void? Here are some beginner names to know:
Note: This list will be edited and updated as we become aware of more candidates becoming available.
Oregon Ducks RB Coach Ra’Shad Samples
Ra’Shad Samples is one of the top young coaches in all of college football, and it feels like he’s been groomed for the position whenever it’s open. Although he has never called plays before, Lanning is confident in this staff and has talked about how bright his future is as a head coach in the coming years. If ducks want to keep things in-house and avoid outside fare, samples seem like the obvious choice.
Missouri offensive coordinator Kirby Moore
Responsible for developing Brady Cook and helping to bring forth star players like Luther Burden III and Cody Schrader, Moore fits the model of the coaches Lanning targeted at Oregon – someone in his early 30s with an aggressive style and a strong recruiting background. Prior to his time at Missouri, Moore worked for several years at Fresno State with Ryan Grubb, helping develop Jake Heiner.
Georgia Tech offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner
Buster Faulkner is a name to watch here, as he has had some major success with Georgia Tech this year, helping the Yellow Jackets build the No. 31 scoring offense and No. 20 total offense this year. Faulkner also worked with Lanning at the Georgia Bulldogs a few years ago, so there’s a connection and familiarity there.
Texas Tech offensive coordinator Mac Leftwich
One of the early names to come up is that of Texas Tech Red Raiders offensive coordinator Mac Leftwich, who has helped build one of the most productive offenses in the country this year in Lubbock. The Red Raiders have the No. 7 ranking in the country in total offense this year, No. 5 in scoring offense and No. 10 in passing offense. Leftwich has a history of quarterback development and was one of the primary developers of Cam Ward at Incarnate Word.
North Texas Mean Green Offensive Coordinator Jordan Davis
One of the top offensive names heading into the coordinator carousel this year is North Texas Mean Green OC Jordan Davis, who has been responsible for producing the No. 1 total offense and No. 1 scoring offense in the country this year. With North Texas head coach Eric Morris taking over as head coach of the Oklahoma State Cowboys this offseason, it may be time for Davis to find a new position as well.
Oregon Ducks co-offensive coordinator Drew Mehringer
If Lanning is looking for an in-house staff he trusts and who has experience as an offensive coordinator and play-caller, it would be hard to pass up TE coach and co-OC Drew Mehringer in Eugene. Mehringer has been in Eugene since Lanning took over in 2021, and has helped elevate the offense every step of the way. Mehringer worked as an OC at Rutgers before moving to Texas and taking over as the passing-game coordinator in Austin. Mehringer also has had recent stops at FAU and New Mexico.
Baylor offensive coordinator Jake Spavital
If you’re looking for someone with a good track record of quarterback development and play-calling, Spavital would be a good fit for you. He’s a little older than the typical Lanning hire, but he’s proven himself several times over the past decade, first at California, and now most recently at Baylor.
UCLA offensive coordinator Jerry Neuheisel
One of the stars of the year in college football has been UCLA offensive coordinator Jerry Newhazel, who has become almost a household name in some circles after helping turn the Bruins around as interim offensive coordinator this season following the departure of head coach DeShawn Foster. The West Coast Playcaller brought a lot of excitement to Westwood, helping lead the way to an unexpected win over the Penn State Nittany Lions to open the year.
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