Dan Lanning's 2026 Oregon coaching staff is built on continuity. Drew Mehringer was promoted to offensive coordinator and Chris Hampton to defensive coordinator, both internal moves after Will Stein left for Kentucky and Tosh Lupoi left for Cal. Joe Lorig runs special teams. The position room coaches: Koa Ka'ai (QB), Ra'Shaad Samples (RB), Ross Douglas (WR), Jack Smith (TE), A'Lique Terry (OL), Tony Tuioti (DL), Kamran Araghi (EDGE), Brian Michalowski (ILB), and Rashad Wadood (CB).

Updated April 28, 2026 | Sources: goducks.com/sports/football/coaches, 247Sports, SI Oregon

Head Coach

Dan Lanning

Head Coach

Since 2022 (5th season)

Prior Georgia DC (2021), reached the national championship game

48-8 career record. .857 win percentage.

Coordinators

Drew Mehringer

Offensive Coordinator

Since 2022 (1st as OC, joined as TE coach Jan 4, 2022)

Prior Texas WR + passing-game coordinator (2017-2019); Florida Atlantic co-OC (2020)

Promoted from within after Will Stein left for Kentucky. Same playbook, same terminology, different voice in the headset.

Chris Hampton

Defensive Coordinator + Safeties

Since 2023 (1st as DC, joined as co-DC + safeties Jan 25, 2023)

Prior Tulane DC (2021-2022); led the Cotton Bowl turnaround

Promoted from within after Tosh Lupoi left for Cal. Inherits the best DL in the country.

Joe Lorig

Special Teams Coordinator + Nickels

Since 2022 (Lanning's original staff, hired Jan 3, 2022)

Prior Penn State special teams coordinator (2019-2021); Memphis special teams + OLB (3 seasons under Mike Norvell). 25-year coaching career.

Returned to the Pacific Northwest. The third leg of the staff alongside Mehringer and Hampton.

Offense: Position Coaches

Koa Ka'ai

Quarterbacks

Since 2026 as QB coach (Oregon analyst since 2022)

Prior Former Oregon tight end. Returned to the program in 2022 as an offensive analyst, worked with TEs, RBs, and WRs before moving to QBs under Will Stein in 2024.

Calls the QB room 'mature beyond its years.' Has Moore, Raiola, Brock Thomas, Akili Smith Jr., and Wiepert.

Ra'Shaad Samples

Running Backs + Asst Head Coach

Since 2024

Prior Houston (student asst, started 2016), SMU (RB then asst HC, 2019-2021), TCU (asst HC + RB, 2021-2022), LA Rams (NFL position coach, 2022), Arizona State (WR + passing-game coordinator, 2023).

Built the 2025 backfield. Said Hill Jr. made 'an outstanding jump in pass pro' through spring 2026.

Ross Douglas

Wide Receivers + Pass Game Coordinator

Since 2025 (hired Feb 20, 2025)

Prior Rutgers GA (2018-2020), Richmond CB coach (spring 2021), New England Patriots WR (2021-2023), Syracuse WR + pass game coordinator (2024). Former Michigan and Rutgers DB.

Preaches positionless football: 'When I evaluate receivers, I evaluate skill sets.' Coaches Stewart, DK Moore, McClellan, Hooks.

Jack Smith

Tight Ends

Since 2026

Inherits Jamari Johnson as the post-Sadiq TE1, plus 5-star freshman Kendre Harrison.

A'Lique Terry

Offensive Line

Since 2026

Three OL starters left for the NFL. Two new tackles to settle by fall camp. Highest-stakes position room on the team.

Defense: Position Coaches

Tony Tuioti

Defensive Line

Since 2022 (Lanning's inaugural staff)

Prior Played DL at Hawaii (1996-1999, all-WAC). Coaching stops at Hawaii, Michigan, and Nebraska before Oregon.

Anchors the deepest position room on the team: Uiagalelei, his son Teitum (verified father-son duo), Washington, Alexander, Rushing, Wyatt, Johnson, Robinson, Simmons.

Kamran Araghi

EDGE / Outside Linebackers

Since 2026

Tasked with replacing Teitum Tuioti and Matayo Uiagalelei production from 2025 with the Rushing/Wyatt next-up wave.

Brian Michalowski

Inside Linebackers

Since 2024 as ILB coach (Oregon analyst 2023, promoted Jan 31, 2024)

Prior Arizona State GA (2012, with Lanning), Memphis GA (2016-2017, with Lanning), Georgia analyst (2018, with Lanning), Colorado outside linebackers (2019-2022), Oregon State analyst (2022).

Develops over the portal. Lost Bryce Boettcher to the Colts (R4/135) but has Jerry Mixon ready for the green dot.

Rashad Wadood

Cornerbacks

Since 2026

Takes the CB room with Na'eem Offord, Brandon Finney Jr., and Dorian Brew battling for the CB1 job.

Assistants

Donte Ellington

Assistant Wide Receivers

Since 2026

Assistant to Ross Douglas in the WR room.

Jay Johnson

Assistant Quarterbacks

Since 2026

Assistant to Koa Ka'ai. Helps manage the deepest QB room in college football.

Ryan Walk

Assistant Offensive Line

Since 2026

Prior Former Oregon center himself; returns to coach the room he played in.

Assistant to A'Lique Terry. The Duck-to-Duck connection in the OL room. Replaced Cutter Leftwich, who followed Will Stein to Kentucky.

Mike Cavanaugh

Offensive Assistant

Since 2026 (returning)

Prior Started 1986 GA at Albany. OL coach at Oregon State, Nebraska, and Arizona State. Helped develop former Oregon OL Jackson Powers-Johnson and Josh Conerly Jr.

Came back to the program in 2026. Adds decades of OL experience behind A'Lique Terry.

Sources: goducks.com/sports/football/coaches, individual coach bios on goducks, 247Sports staff updates (verified Apr 27, 2026).

Frequently Asked Questions

Drew Mehringer is Oregon's offensive coordinator in 2026. He was promoted from co-OC in January 2026 after Will Stein left to be the head coach at Kentucky. Mehringer originally joined Lanning's staff on January 4, 2022 as tight ends coach.

Chris Hampton is Oregon's defensive coordinator in 2026. He was promoted from co-DC in December 2025 after Tosh Lupoi was named head coach at Cal. Hampton joined Lanning's staff on January 25, 2023 as co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach.

Joe Lorig is Oregon's special teams coordinator. He returned to the Pacific Northwest after coaching special teams and outside linebackers at Memphis for three seasons.

A'Lique Terry is Oregon's offensive line coach in 2026. Ryan Walk, a former Oregon center, returned to the program as assistant offensive line coach. Mike Cavanaugh serves as an offensive assistant. The OL coaches are tasked with rebuilding two new tackle spots after three OL starters (Pregnon, Harkey, World) left for the NFL.

Koa Ka'ai is the quarterbacks coach. Jay Johnson is the assistant QB coach. They oversee the deepest QB room in college football: Dante Moore, Dylan Raiola, Brock Thomas, Akili Smith Jr., and R-freshman Mark Wiepert.

Tony Tuioti is the defensive line coach. He anchors the deepest position room on the team: returning starters Matayo Uiagalelei, A'Mauri Washington, Bear Alexander, plus Elijah Rushing, Nasir Wyatt, and the next wave.

Brian Michalowski coaches the inside linebackers. Kamran Araghi coaches the EDGE / outside linebackers. Jerry Mixon wears the green dot as the on-field defensive signal-caller in 2026.

Chris Hampton coaches the safeties (in addition to his DC duties). Rashad Wadood coaches the cornerbacks. The CB1 competition: Na'eem Offord vs Brandon Finney Jr. vs Dorian Brew.

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2026 Oregon Ducks Coaching Staff

Head Coach

Coordinators

Offense: Position Coaches

Defense: Position Coaches

Assistants

Frequently Asked Questions

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