Football
- Title:
- Assistant Coach - Outside Linebackers
Dan Lanning was named the Fain and Billy Slaughter Defensive Coordinator in February, 2019, after serving one year as Georgia’s outside linebackers coach. He joined the Bulldog staff after two years as inside linebacker coach and recruiting coordinator at the University of Memphis.
During his tenure at UGA, Lanning has been part of teams that became the first in school history to win 11 or more games three straight seasons (2017-19), won two SEC Eastern Division titles (2018-19), and earned three consecutive appearances in a New Year’s Six Bowl game (2019 Allstate Sugar, 2020 Allstate Sugar, 2021 Chick-fil-A Peach). The 2019 and 2020 senior classes won 44 games—tied for most in school history.
At UGA, Lanning has coached Azeez Ojulari, who in 2020 led the SEC in sacks, forced fumbles, was 2nd in tackles for loss, and was a second-round pick by the New York Giants in the 2021 NFL Draft. In 2018 he coached Second Team All-SEC OLB D’Andre Walker, who led the team in sacks and tackles-for-loss (11.0) and was a 5th round pick of the Tennessee Titans in the 2019 NFL draft.
In two seasons under his coordination, Georgia’s defense led the nation in rushing defense in both 2019 (74.6 ypg) and 2020 (72.3 ypg), in scoring defense in 2019 (12.6 ppg), and in rushing TDs allowed in 2019 (2, UGA record). The Bulldogs ranked 2nd and 3rd nationally in total defense in the 2020 and 2019 seasons.
Lanning joined the Memphis staff in 2016 after spending the 2015 season at Alabama as a graduate assistant coach with the outside linebackers. Prior to Alabama, Lanning held positions at Pittsburgh (2011), Arizona State (2012-13) and Sam Houston State (2014).
At Memphis he was part of a staff that that led the Tigers to their third 10-win season in school history and finished in the top five in the country in turnovers gained two years in a row. On that team, Lanning coached two-time first team All-American Athletic Conference LB Genard Avery.
At Alabama, Lanning was a member of the coaching staff that guided the Crimson Tide to a 14-1 record, the SEC Championship and the 2015 College Football Playoff (CFP) national title. Lanning worked with a Crimson Tide defense that ranked top-10 nationally in five categories.
Lanning spent the 2014 campaign at Sam Houston State, where he helped guide the Bearkats to an 11-5 record, the Southland Conference crown and a Football Championship Series (FCS) playoffs appearance. Sam Houston played in its fourth straight FCS playoffs, advancing to the semifinal round.
At Sam Houston State, Lanning coached the defensive backs and served as the program’s co-recruiting coordinator. He mentored three Bearkats defensive backs that earned All-Southland Conference honors, including Trenier Orr who also was named an All-American.
Lanning spent the 2012- 2013 seasons on the staff at Arizona State. He began his Sun Devils career as a grad assistant in 2012, before moving to the on-campus recruiting coordinator/defensive assistant in 2013.
Lanning, who served as the lead recruiter in Kansas and the Mississippi junior colleges, helped Arizona State land a top-20 recruiting class in 2013. On the field, he helped develop a defense that ranked top-10 nationally in turnovers gained (5th), passes intercepted (3rd) and penalties against (6th).
Lanning began his collegiate coaching career as a graduate assistant on the staff at Pittsburgh. In his role, he worked with the defensive backs coach and recruited in the Northeast. In 2011, the Pittsburgh defense ranked among the national leaders in sacks, TFL and rushing defense.
Lanning got his start in coaching as an assistant at Park Hill South High School in Riverside, Mo., from 2008-10. In his three seasons there, he coached special teams, defensive backs and wide receivers.
A Richmond, Mo., native, Lanning played linebacker at William Jewell College, located in Liberty, Mo. He earned two Bachelor of Science degrees in physical education and secondary education in 2008. Two years later, Lanning completed coursework for his master’s degree in secondary administration from William Woods University in Fulton, Mo.
Lanning and his wife, Sauphia, have three sons: Caden, Kniles and Titan.
Lanning ThumbnailBirthdate: April 10, 1986
Birthplace: North Kansas City, Mo.
Family: Wife Sauphia, sons Caden, Kniles and Titan
High School: Richmond, Mo.
College: William Jewell College ‘08 (B.S.); William Woods Univ. ‘10 (M.S. Secondary Administration)
Coaching Experience:
2008-10............. Park Hill South (Mo.) HS (Spec. Teams/DBs/WRs)
2011................................ Pittsburgh (Defensive Graduate Assistant)
2012............. Arizona State (Defensive Grad. Assistant: OLBs/NBs)
2013................. Arizona State (On-Campus Recruiting Coordinator)
2014....................... Sam Houston State (DBs/Co-Recruiting Coord.)
2015....................... Alabama (Defensive Graduate Assistant: OLBs)
2016-17............................... Memphis (ILBs/Recruiting Coordinator)
2018.................................................... Georgia (Outside Linebackers)
2019............................................. Georgia (Defensive Coord. / OLBs)
