What Tosh Lupoi's promotion at Cal means for the Ducks

Years ago Miami of Ohio used to be the cradle of coaches, then Nick Saban's Alabama program, six-time national champions, became college football's Celebrity Coaching Rehab.

Lane Kiffin, Steve Sarkisian and Mario Cristobal went through the Saban car wash, fired elsewhere only to become $10 million a year men in top programs. Former Bama defensive coordinator Kirby Smart won two national championships at Georgia after working for the Tide taskmaster. Dan Lanning and Tosh Lupoi worked in the Saban Progrum.

Saban's on the ESPN College GameDay set these days, so someone else has to take over the mantle. Increasingly, Dan Lanning is establishing a training ground for ambitious, driven young coaches (he's skilled at identifying them) and giving them the tools to build their own progrums.

Lupoi, a former Cal defensive lineman and defensive line coach, is going home again in a similar way to Louisville native Will Stein heading to Kentucky. Both earned the promotions by crafting Top Ten units and sending players to the NFL.

At Oregon, growth is always part of the plan

Dan Lanning planned for the elevation, and the Ducks didn't lose a single recruit because of it. At the Early Signing Period press conference he said, "I've been very adamant about the fact that my goal is to help people reach their dreams and goals."

Prior to the signing period and the coaching promotions he sat down with every recruit to outline the plan for their development, including an honest conversation about potential staff changes. There was no panic. It wasn't a crisis.

Lanning and chief of staff Marshall Malchow have been working on the succession plan for several months. Now 46-7 and No. 4 in the country in his fourth season, he maintains a book of contacts and potential additions. The process to replace Lupoi and Stein will move the program forward, and it's a huge benefit to continuity that both are staying on to call plays through the playoffs.

Oregon's next defensive coordinator might be an in-house hire, though Lanning hasn't gone in that direction previously. Chris Hampton is dynamic, an excellent teacher, and he has play-calling experience.

He's led a secondary that ranks No. 4 in the nation in opponent passer rating, allowing only 52 percent completions. Along with the entire defense, his group had their finest hour in shutting down Demond Williams and Washington in Husky Stadium.

The Ducks wrecked Williams, holding him to 15-30 passing for 129 yards, picking him off twice. If that's an example of what Hampton can do as the new architect of Gang Green, bring it on.