Dan Lanning to remain with Georgia through College Football Playoff

“We are so happy for Dan and his family,” Smart said in a press release issued by the school. “He and Sauphia have been an important part of our Bulldog family for the last four years, and we thank them for all they did for Georgia Football and the Athens community. Opportunities like this are a testament to a successful program.

“While he will coach with us for the upcoming College Football Playoff, we will move forward with Glenn Schumann and Will Muschamp as co-defensive coordinators. Dan and I are both looking forward to preparing for the CFP.”

Caption

Georgia inside linebackers coach Glenn Schumann leads a player through a drill. (RICHARD HAMM / Special to the AJC)

Credit: Richard Hamm

Caption

Georgia inside linebackers coach Glenn Schumann leads a player through a drill. (RICHARD HAMM / Special to the AJC)

Credit: Richard Hamm

Credit: Richard Hamm

Muschamp joined the Georgia staff this year as a special-teams coordinator. He also worked with the team’s defensive backs. Schumann also coaches inside linebackers.

Oregon completed a deal with Lanning to replace Mario Cristobal, who was hired by Miami earlier this week. The school confirmed the hiring Saturday night, at which time Lanning issued a statement.

“I am honored and humbled to be selected to lead one of the premier programs in the nation at the University of Oregon,” Lanning said. “I want to personally thank President Schill, the Board of Trustees, athletic director Rod Mullens and Mr. and Mrs. Knight for their trust in me. I’m excited to roll up my sleeves and get to work with our players in the pursuit of championships.”

“It is clear there is a vision and alignment within the entire Duck Nation. We are staged for success and look forward to building on the strong foundation that currently exists in Eugene. Our goal is to win championships and develop our players both on and off the field. I am overwhelmed with gratitude to Coach Kirby Smart and his wife, Mary Beth and to every player, coach, staff member, and person at the University of Georgia who contributed to our success. I thank you. Go Ducks!”

Lanning, who played at William Jewell College in Missouri, also coached at Pittsburgh, Arizona State, Sam Houston State, Alabama (where he was on the same staff as Smart) and Memphis. He was the inside linebackers coach and recruiting coordinator at Memphis from 2016-17 before coming to Georgia.

Georgia will face Michigan in a semifinal Dec. 31. The winner of that game will play the winner of the Alabama-Cincinnati game in the other semifinal, the Cotton Bowl, for the national title Jan. 10 in Indianapolis.