Oregon Ducks OC Hotboard 2.0: Who replaces Will Stein?

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It’s been a busy week in Eugene, to say the least.

Things started on Monday with news that Oregon Ducks offensive coordinator Will Stein would be leaving to take over as the new head coach for the Kentucky Wildcats. Less than 24 hours later, news broke that defensive coordinator Tosh Lupoi will also be leaving the Ducks, taking over as the head coach for the California Golden Bears in 2026.

On top of that, the Early Signing Period started on Wednesday, and the Ducks were busy signing 21 players, five of whom were 5-stars, inking the No. 2-ranked class in the nation.

Now that the dust has settled on signing day, we can look back on the coordinator search for Dan Lanning. It has been reported that co-defensive coordinator Chris Hampton is expected to step up and become the DC in the wake of Lupoi’s departure, but as for who steps in at the offensive coordinator position for the Ducks, it is unclear.

There have been several names floated, a handful of people contacted, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see a front-runner named soon. Here’s a look at some of the potential candidates for the job:

Kade Bell — Pitt Panthers Offensive Coordinator

Bell is currently the OC and QB coach at Pitt, and came up through the FCS ranks, where he made a name for himself with Western Carolina in 2023, averaging 504 yards and 37.5 points per game. In his first season on the call with the Panthers, Bell immediately lifted Pitt’s aerial attack, giving them the No. 3 passing game in the ACC while helping develop QBs Eli Holstein and Mason Heintschel. Bell fits the mold of Lanning’s past hires, at just 32 years old with a track record for fast-paced offenses that can score in a hurry and use many personnel packages in his game plan.

Jonathan Brewer — Duke Blue Devils Offensive Coordinator

Brewer is currently the OC and QB coach at Duke, and has quickly drawn attention as a rising offensive mind. In his tenure at Duke, Brewer has helped transform the Blue Devils’ offense into a productive, balanced attack, averaging 33.6 points per game, with a pass-heavy scheme that leads the ACC in passing yards per game. His offense relies heavily on tempo and motion, and depending on what ends up happening with QB Dante Moore — whether he returns to Oregon or goes to the NFL in 2026 — there’s the potential of Brewer bringing QB Darian Mensah with him in the transfer portal should that be necessary.

Kirby Moore — Missouri Tigers Offensive Coordinator

Responsible for helping develop Brady Cook and bringing out star players like Luther Burden III and Cody Schrader, Moore fits the model of coaches that Lanning has targeted while at Oregon — someone in his early 30s with an aggressive style and a strong recruiting background. Before his time at Missouri, Moore worked at Fresno State for several years alongside Ryan Grubb, helping to develop Jake Haener.

Drew Mehringer — Oregon Ducks Tight Ends Coach

If Lanning is looking for an in-house hire that he trusts and someone who has experience as an offensive coordinator and a play-caller, it would be hard to pass up on Drew Mehringer, the TE coach and co-OC in Eugene. Mehringer has been in Eugene since Lanning took over in 2021 and has helped grow the offense every step of the way. Mehringer acted as the OC at Rutgers before moving on to Texas and taking over as the Passing-Game Coordinator in Austin. Mehringer has also had recent stops at FAU and New Mexico.

Jordan Davis — North Texas Mean Green Offensive Coordinator

One of the top offensive names to know in the coordinator carousel this year is North Texas Mean Green OC Jordan Davis, who is responsible for producing the No. 1 total offense and No. 1 scoring offense in the nation this year. With North Texas head coach Eric Morris taking over as the head coach of the Oklahoma State Cowboys this offseason, it could be time for Davis to find a new spot as well.

Mack Leftwich — Texas Tech Red Raiders Offensive Coordinator

One of the early names that has popped up is Texas Tech Red Raiders offensive coordinator Mack Leftwich, who has helped build one of the most productive offenses in the nation this year down in Lubbock. The Red Raiders have the No. 7 total offense, No. 5 scoring offense, and No. 10 passing offense in the nation this year. Leftwich has a history with quarterback development and was one of the primary developers of Cam Ward at Incarnate Word. It also doesn’t hurt that his brother, Cutter Leftwich, is on the Oregon staff already.

Ra’Shaad Samples — Oregon Ducks Running Backs Coach

Ra’Shaad Samples is one of the top young coaches in all of college football, and he has a future as a head coach in this league. While he has never called plays before, Lanning trusts him on this staff and has talked about how bright a future he has as a head coach in the coming years. If the Ducks are to keep things in-house and avoid an outside hire, Samples feels like a great choice.

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This article originally appeared on Ducks Wire: Candidates to replace Will Stein as Oregon Ducks offensive coordinator

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