Dan Lanning a finalist for The Dodd Trophy Coach of the Year award

Not only has Dan Lanning made a name for himself as a psychological mastermind on and off the field, but the Oregon Ducks head coach has also represented the program well – in the community, in the stadium, and in the Big Ten.

Because of his involvement in Eugene and the area surrounding Oregon's campus, not to mention Oregon's flawless record and No. 1 ranking, Lanning was named a finalist for the Dodd Trophy for Coach of the Year.

Every year, the Dodd Trophy is awarded to the nation's top head coach who best represents "the award's three pillars of scholarship, leadership, and integrity, both on and off the field."

This season, Lanning led the Ducks into the Big Ten, a perfect regular season record, a conference title game victory, and the No. 1 seed in the first-ever 12-team College Football Playoffs.

Alongside Lanning in the group of finalists are Arizona State's Kenny Dillingham (Lanning's former offensive coordinator), Army's Jeff Monken, Notre Dame's Marcus Freeman, and South Carolina's Shane Beamer.

Just a few weeks ago, Monken (AAC) and Dillingham (Big 12) were named as their respective conferences' Coach of the Year.

"This year's finalists truly represent the next generation of coaching greats for our sport considering four of the five selections have been head coaches for less than five years," said Jim Terry, chairman of the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Foundation. "Coach Dodd would have admired how these coaches have been able to establish success within their programs, both on and off the field, particularly so early in many of their head coaching careers."

The winner of the 2024 Dodd TrophyPresented by PNC Bank will be announced in Atlanta during bowl week at this year's Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl.

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