Oregon has announced that A’lique Terry is returning to Eugene to join coach Dan Lanning’s staff as the program’s new offensive line coach.

Terry comes over after a year with the Minnesota Vikings as an assistant defensive line coach. Prior to landing with the Vikings, Terry served as Hawaii’s offensive line coach in 2021 and a graduate assistant working with the Ducks’ offensive line in 2019 and 2020. He’ll replace Adrian Klemm, who left last week to join the New England Patriots.

“I am really excited to return to the University of Oregon,” Terry said in a release. “I want to thank Coach Lanning and the Oregon administration for this incredible opportunity to be a part of what they are building in Eugene. I’ve experienced first-hand how special Oregon is, and I couldn’t be more fired up to get back and connect with our student-athletes. I am very appreciative and can’t wait to get to work.”

As a graduate assistant with the Ducks in 2019, Terry worked with an Oregon offensive line that included a trio of all-Americans in Penei Sewell, Shane Lemieux, and Calvin Throckmorton. Sewell won the Outland Trophy as the top interior lineman in the country that year, and joined Marcus Mariota and LaMichael James as the only unanimous All-Americans in program history to that point.

Behind that dominant offensive line, the Ducks won 12 games, won a Pac-12 title, and won the Rose Bowl. Contributors on that o-line claimed eight Pac-12 Offensive Lineman of the Week awards in 12 regular-season weeks.

Lemieux and center Jake Hanson were selected in the 2020 NFL Draft. Sewell was taken seventh overall by the Detroit Lions in the 2021 NFL Draft.

In the announcement from the Ducks on Tuesday, Terry was universally praised by both Lanning and former players.

Lanning on Terry:

“We are thrilled to welcome A’lique back to the Oregon family. A’lique is very familiar with our program and understands the values and goals that we have here in Eugene. He is passionate, with unique experiences that range from the college ranks all the way to the NFL as a coach. He also has experience as a player, competing at the Power 5 level on the offensive line.

“His relationships with our current and past student-athletes are unmatched, and his reputation as a teacher precedes him. We are really excited about what A’lique brings to our program and the positive impact he’ll have on our student-athletes both on and off the field.”

Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu on Terry:

“Coach Terry is the real deal. Oregon is gaining a special coach that will continue the dominance of the Oregon Trenches. I received excellence guidance from Terry himself. I feel confident in his abilities to orchestrate a top-notch line and develop the bond and chemistry that they need.”

Alex Forsyth on Terry:

“The most prepared and detailed coach I have been around. He has an elite knowlege of the game. The amount of time and work he puts into making sure each offensive lineman is ready for the game is unmatched. He is also phenomenal at connecting with players, with recruiting, and well-respected. Phenomenal hire.”

Sewell on Terry:

“Absolutely love this hire. Coach Terry is the perfect man for this job and I’m excited to see him get the boys ready for the season. This man’s passion and commitment to help others reach their potential is unique and hard to find. He will get the OL right! I have no doubt that Coach Terry will do great things for the program and develop young men to be great in life and in football.”

Lemieux on Terry:

“Coach Terry is a great coach and I’m very thankful for the relationship we built while I was at Oregon. I’m excited to see his development of the Offensive Line and the continued success they have with him leading the way. The University of Oregon just got a great one!”

Hanson on Terry:

“I couldn’t be more excited for Coach Terry. When he was our graduate assistant OL coach, we could all tell being a head offensive line coach was in the near future for him. Amazing accomplishment. This is a great hire by Coach Lanning.”

Throckmorton on Terry:

“I couldn’t think of a better fit for the job. Coach Terry has a tremendous amount of experience and dedicates himself to every player he works with. I couldn’t be more excited and happy to see him work with the Oregon offensive line.”