Ad Disclosure
Oregon announces new offensive, defensive coordinator hires
Published:
Head coach Dan Lanning announced on Thursday that Oregon will promote from within to fill the vacancies left by Will Stein and Tosh Lupoi.
Tight ends coach Drew Mehringer will serve as the team’s new offensive coordinator. He has been with Lanning for all 4 of his seasons in Eugene. Secondary coach Chris Hampton, who just wrapped his third season on staff, will take over as the team’s defensive coordinator.
Both men held co-coordinator titles in 2025.
“Chris and Drew have been tremendous coaches and leaders since joining our program and are more than deserving of taking these next steps in their careers,” Lanning said in a statement. “They have each done an unbelievable job of helping our student-athletes excel both on and off the field. We are thrilled to be able to promote them to our coordinator roles and maintain the momentum we have created as a program and a coaching staff.”
Since Hampton’s arrival in 2023, Oregon has ranked in the top 10 nationally every season in pass breakups. The Ducks have also had 4 defensive backs drafted in the first 4 rounds of the NFL Draft since 2023. All-American Dillon Thieneman figures to join that group later this year.
“Coach Hampton is one of the best defensive minds in the country and a terrific leader of men,” Lanning said. “He has really poured into our program over the last three years and has played a huge role in our improvement and success on the defensive side of the ball. Chris’ ability to build relationships with current and future student-athletes is special and we are excited to have him in this role moving forward.”
Mehringer has past play-calling experience from his time at Rutgers, when he became the youngest play-caller at the power conference level in 2016. He has worked with Oregon’s tight ends since joining Lanning’s staff. Terrance Ferguson was drafted in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft, and Kenyon Sadiq could become a first-round draft pick in the 2026 draft.
“Coach Mehringer has been with us from the start here at Oregon and has made a consistent impact on our program,” Lanning said. “He is an incredibly smart and innovative coach who will do a great job leading our offense and putting our student-athletes in position to succeed. Drew has earned this opportunity and I am looking forward to seeing him continue to grow as a coach and a leader.”
Derek Peterson does a bit of everything, not unlike Taysom Hill. He has covered Oklahoma, Nebraska, the Pac-12, and now delivers CFB-wide content.