Dan Lanning and the Oregon Ducks football team had the tough task of replacing Kenny Dillingham as the former Ducks offensive coordinator got a well deserved shot to lead the Arizona State Sun Devils. But, as Dillingham left, Lanning may have found someone just as good (or better) in new Oregon Ducks offensive coordinator Will Stein.
Stein is entering into his second season as the OC in Eugene and Lanning had the chance to share his thoughts on the way Stein thrives for the Ducks. Because it really seems like the high-powered offense that the Oregon Ducks football program is known for is in good hands with Stein at the helm of Oregon’s offensive strategy.
“I think he's adaptable, " Lanning explained. “I think that's the most important trait in college football right now for coaches is their ability to adapt to ever-changing rules, ever-changing schemes.”
Oregon football: Dan Lanning thrilled with Will Stein’s ‘passion to find information’
That’s generally a good thing to have in any field, but it certainly seems beneficial to have on the football field. For someone to be willing to adapt on the fly and continue to innovate? Well, just about any organization could thrive from a strategy maker that is able to do that on a regular basis.
“I think he's hungry to learn, has a passion to find information,” Lanning said. “Doesn't always feel like he has all the answers, but I can tell you Will knows how to solve it.”
Problem solvers are also very valuable to have around. But it’s not just Stein’s brilliance that matters here. Another key aspect of Stein’s success as a coach is his ability to connect with Oregon football players. That also, unsurprisingly, earned some praise from Dan Lanning.
"He does a great job with our players. He connects to them. He can meet them at the surface level," Lanning explained.
The Oregon Ducks are very fortunate to have someone who can have that sort of connection combined with Stein’s brilliance and also his valuable experience as a former college quarterback. If Stein ever leaves, the Ducks will have a hard time finding a replacement who is just as great as he is.