Dan Lanning is officially the 2025 Stallings Award recipient after he and the Oregon Ducks had a season for the record books. However, the award goes to the head coach who does more than just earn wins on the field.
Every year, the Stallings Award is given to the head coach that best embodies the core tenets of Gene Stallings, who was a college football coach from 1956 until 1996. Those tenets? Leadership and compassion.
Lanning, who has been with the Ducks for just three years, has earned the love and respect of his players, his staff, and the Oregon community.
"Coach Lanning earned this recognition for his remarkable coaching record, dedication to student-athletes, and unwavering commitment to community service," the press release read. "[He] will receive the 2025 Stallings Award for his remarkable football season, charitable contributions, and community service efforts."
While the Ducks' 13-1 overall record at the end of the season and their Big Ten Championship victory were beyond impressive, Lanning does more than just coach the Oregon football team to incredible wins.
Lanning has built the Oregon football program into a blue-blood program and has earned the respect of coaches and players across the country. All the while, the Ducks' head coach was also "upholding a strong commitment to excellence, integrity, and community engagement."
Earlier in the year, Lanning was named as a finalist for the Dodd Trophy which goes to the top head coach of the season. While Notre Dame's Marcus Freeman was the recipient of the Dodd Trophy, Lanning earning a spot as a finalist was a huge accomplishment.
The proceeds from the Stallings Award go to "The Ashford Rise School of Dallas as a tribute to Coach Stallings’ late son, Johnny, who was born with Down syndrome. The Ashford Rise School provides the highest quality early education services to children with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities." The ceremony for the Stallings Award will be held on May 6, 2025, in Dallas, TX.