‘A tough position;’ Will Stein, Tosh Lupoi balance CFP program build
NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...
The last week has been a whirlwind for Oregon Ducks offensive coordinator Will Stein and defensive coordinator Tosh Lupoi. After being announced as the new head coaches of the Kentucky Wildcats and California Golden Bears, respectively, Stein and Lupoi have taken on significant responsibility, working to overhaul their programs from the ground up and turn them into contenders.
All the while, they are also staying on with the Ducks in the midst of a College Football Playoff run and trying to coach their team to a national championship game.
Talk about a full plate.
Fortunately, the guy at the top of the organizational chart in Eugene knows a thing or two about what Lupoi and Stein are going through. Back in 2021, when Dan Lanning accepted the head coaching job at Oregon, he juggled his new responsibilities while also coaching the Georgia Bulldogs through the playoffs as the defensive coordinator.
While the journey was shorter thanks to a four-team playoff, Lanning helped the Bulldogs beat the Michigan Wolverines in the semi-finals, and then the Alabama Crimson Tide in the championship game to get his first ring. While Lanning was successful in his double-duty venture, that’s not to say it was easy.
“It’s a tough position to be in, but it’s one that’s really rewarding,” Lanning said on Sunday after the Ducks were named the No. 5 seed in the 2025 CFP. “The hard part is just not being able to be boots on the ground there, and being here, you know, and focusing on what’s going on here. Because the reality is, you have to be able to do a job here, and you have to be present for that job, so the hard part is doing that, knowing that you’re not going to be able to be somewhere else.”
Over the past week, both Lupoi and Stein have been able to enjoy a pseudo bye week for Oregon as they watched Conference Championship Weekend unfold without the Ducks in the mix. Stein made his way to Lexington and spent a lot of time recruiting and getting his barings set, while Lupoi jetted out to Hawaii after his introductory press conference in Berkeley to successfully recruit/retain his new star freshman quarterback, Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele.
According to Lanning, though, the page turns on Monday as Oregon starts to prep for James Madison and the potential playoff games that ensue. That means that Lupoi and Stein will likely be in Eugene, focusing on their Duck job while still trying to progress with their new ventures. For Lanning, that means they will have to rely on people they trust, and make sure to stay open and honest about everything along the way.
“You got people you trust there, but there’ll be a lot of conversations between now and the end of the thing for those guys to be able to make sure they maximize that opportunity.”
Contact/Follow @Ducks_Wire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oregon Ducks news, notes, and opinions.
This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: Oregon Ducks OC, DC balance CFP run with new head coaching jobs
More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos