Where Oregon Ducks go at DC following Tosh Lupoi's departure

With Oregon Ducks defensive coordinator Tosh Lupoi to the California Golden Bears as their next head coach now considered a done deal, the conversation immediately flips back to Dan Lanning's next decision: who replaces Lupoi?

According to CBS Sports' Matt Zenitz, the next man up will be co-defensive coordinator Chris Hampton, who is also the secondary coach at Oregon. Hampton came to Eugene after being the defensive coordinator for the Tulane Green Wave, and has been in line to receive this promotion once Lupoi eventually left.

The Ducks' defense this season has been among the best, with Lupoi setting the expectations for Hampton extremely high.

This is a big move when it comes to Lanning's coaching tree, which is quickly growing, with assistants Kenny Dillingham (Arizona State), Will Stein (Kentucky) and now Lupoi taking head coaching jobs after stops at Oregon.

The nature of the program is an enticing factor as well, as the university is backing Oregon's football program in ways that are not found in many places in college football. The resources are here to continue the dominant defense.

Hampton was hired by Lanning in January of 2023, meaning that he's served in those two roles for three seasons. He's no stranger to the defensive coordinator role, as he was Tulane's DC in 2022 when the Green Wave went 12-2 and took down USC in the Cotton Bowl.

The 39-year-old fits the mold of who Lanning hires in these roles, similar to Dillingham, Stein and Lupoi: relatively young by coaching standards and someone who's worked his way up the ladder. Hampton has done just that, as he began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Central Arkansas in 2008 before stops at Georgia Tech, back to Central Arkansas, and then four seasons at McNeese State before being hired at Tulane.

As the co-defensive coordinator the past three seasons, Hampton is involved in the daily game-planning. He knows the culture, as he's been engulfed in it for nearly three calendar years at this point.

Lupoi's time with Oregon can be appreciated, as he established himself as not only one of the top defensive coaches in college football but also a recruiter. However, fans are sure to be excited for what is to come with Hampton, considering what he has done with the secondary both from a schematic standpoint and in the recruiting world.

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This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: What Tosh Lupoi's departure to California means for Oregon Ducks