It comes as no surprise, but Oregon Ducks head coach Dan Lanning is having to dust off his Rolodex and go through the hiring process once again this year, following the now announced departure of offensive coordinator Will Stein.
It was announced on Monday afternoon that Stein will be accepting the Kentucky Wildcats head coaching position, returning home where he grew up. The expectation is that Stein will stay with Oregon throughout the College Football Playoff and then join the Wildcats once the season ends for the Ducks.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementWith Stein being one of the top play-callers and quarterback developers in the nation, his departure for a head coaching job comes as no surprise. However, it does leave the Ducks with a number of questions to answer over the next couple of days, weeks, and beyond.
Here are some of the most pressing things for Oregon to take care of and pay attention to over the next few weeks:
Who is Next at OC?
Texas Tech offensive coordinator Mack Leftwich looks on during warmups before a Big 12 Conference football game, Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025, at Jones AT&T Stadium.Obviously, the top question is about who replaces Stein as the next play-caller for the Ducks. There are a number of names to know, and some premium qualifications needed that should be considered. If we've learned anything about Lanning during these hiring processes over the past couple of years, it's that he's going to take big swings and tend to aim for a younger hire with a ton of upside.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementWe have a list of potential candidates for you to view here.
There's a chance that the Ducks choose to keep things in-house and promote someone like Ra'Shaad Samples or Drew Mehringer, but it feels more likely that Lanning goes outside and gets one of the top names on the market. There's no denying, at this point, that the Ducks' OC job is among the most coveted coordinator jobs in the nation, with the last two occupants going on to land Power 4 jobs. It's clear that Lanning is going to have his pick of the litter here.
Who Follows Stein to Kentucky?
Oregon offensive coordinator Will Stein, left, former Oregon defensive coordinator Nick Aliotti and former Oregon coach Rich Brooks talk before the game as the Fighting Ducks face off against Mighty Oregon in the Oregon Ducks spring game on April 26, 2025, at Autzen Stadium in Eugene.Whenever you have coaching movement, the next question becomes who follows? Will Stein has both a coaching staff and a roster to fill out in Kentucky now, both of which he can partially do by promoting guys from Eugene. Does Stein tab someone like TE coach Drew Mehringer as his next offensive coordinator? Does he bring over Austin Novosad or Luke Moga in the transfer portal and make him his next starting QB? How many analysts and assistants follow Stein to Lexington in order to get more prominent roles? It's not as if Stein is going to gut Lanning's staff in order to create his own, as the two have a good relationship and will likely go through an amicable split, but it's fair to think that there are at least a handful of coaches and players who will follow Stein to Kentucky.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementWhat Does Dante Moore Do?
Oregon quarterback Dante Moore throws a pass as the Oregon Ducks take on the Washington Huskies on Nov. 29, 2025, at Husky Stadium in Seattle, Washington.One of the biggest questions of all for Oregon to answer over the coming month has to do with Dante Moore and what his future plans are. Throughout the season, it has been well documented that Moore is unlikely to declare for the 2026 NFL draft and instead return to Eugene for another year of development and growth. Does that change now that he has to deal with a new offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach? My initial reaction is that Moore is still going to stick around for another year, as he knows that he still needs more development before leaving for the NFL, but without Stein by his side at Oregon, it's a fair question to ask.
Does This Impact National Signing Day?
Oregon Ducks dominate the Oklahoma State Cowboys, 69-3, at Autzen Stadium. (General)While Will Stein has always been regarded as a great offensive coordinator and play-caller, he is a great recruiter as well. So, with the early signing period just two days away, how does this impact recruiting? 4-star QB Bryson Beaver has already come out and said that he is not changing anything when it comes to signing with the Ducks, and it's fair to think that other offensive players will feel the same. The Ducks do a good job of recruiting as a staff, rather than having one or two lead recruiters, trying to protect against this very scenario. I don't believe we will see any flips or decommitments because of Stein's departure.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementHow Does Stein Balance the CFP?
Jan 1, 2015; Pasadena, CA, USA; Detailed view of Oregon Ducks College Football Playoff scarves prior to the 2015 Rose Bowl college football game at Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY SportsWhen Dan Lanning was hired at Oregon, he was allowed to stay on as the defensive coordinator at Georgia throughout the College Football Playoff, and he won a national championship. Will Stein now has the same opportunity at Oregon. Will he be as successful?
It's a big ask, and I'm not talking about winning a national championship. I mean, it's a lot to ask of Stein to stay on as the OC for Oregon, prepare for potentially four more playoff games, all while trying to build his coaching staff, recruit, and formulate his roster at Kentucky. I'm not doubting that he can do it, or insinuating that his production at Oregon is going to decrease by any means, but I think it is fair to question how all of this is going to play out over the next month as far as delegation goes. Stein just had a lot shoved onto his plate as the newest head coach in college football. Can he manage that while trying to help lead Oregon to a championship?
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This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: 5 questions for Oregon Ducks to answer after Will Stein's departure
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