Oregon announces hirings of Carlos Locklyn, Drew Mehringer as new offensive coaches
Oregon announced two more members of new head coach Dan Lanning’s coaching staff on Tuesday.
Carlos Locklyn is joining the program as the team’s new running backs coach, while Drew Mehringer has been officially added to the fold as the new tight ends coach. There is only one spot left for a full-time assistant, and it’s expected to go to NFL assistant and former Alabama defensive coordinator Tosh Lupoi.
“I am thrilled to have Carlos Locklyn join us here at Oregon,” Lanning said in a release. “He is a dynamic addition to our offensive staff, playing a big role in Western Kentucky’s historically productive offense this past season. I was able to see Carlos’ love and dedication to his players in my time together with him in Memphis. Watching him grow in the profession has been true evidence of his drive and focus. He is a servant leader and will do a great job with our running backs.
“Our running back room has a lot of talent, and I am really excited for our student-athletes to learn from a teacher of Coach Locklyn’s caliber. He is going to develop some serious playmakers for the Ducks, but most importantly, some terrific young men. Please join me in welcoming Carlos and his wife, Victoria, and their two children, Donovan and Dorian, to the Oregon family.”
It has been something of a meteoric rise in the profession for Locklyn, who just a few years ago was a weight room assistant at Memphis—where he first crossed paths with Lanning. Locklyn was a coach at the high school level for eight years before joining the Tigers staff in 2017. In 2018, he was an offensive analyst for the Tigers, and then in 2019 he took over as the program’s director of high school relations. The following year, he held the same title at Florida State.
This past season, the 2021 campaign, was his debut as an on-field assistant at Western Kentucky.
“I want to thank Coach Lanning for this tremendous opportunity,” Locklyn said. “As long as you’ve got true passion, strong faith, a will to serve others and work hard, you can do anything you want in life. Know your passion. Dream it. Live it. Love it. Walk-on coach mentality!”
Mehringer has been around a bit longer.
He began as the quarterbacks coach and co-offensive coordinator at James Madison in 2014. In 2015, he went to work for then-Houston coach Tom Herman as the Cougars’ wideout coach. In 2016, he became the youngest Power Five offensive coordinator in the country when he took over at Rutgers. He was just 28. Then when Herman was hired as the Texas head coach in 2017, the pair reunited in Austin and Mehringer spent another three years coaching receivers on Herman’s staff.
In 2020, he was on the Florida Atlantic staff as the program’s co-offensive coordinator and wideout coach. In 2021, he was New Mexico’s passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach.
Lots of stops, lots of different places to learn.
“I am fired up to bring Drew Mehringer to Eugene,” said Lanning in a release. He is one of the top young offensive minds in college football with an impressive history coaching multiple different positions. He was once the youngest play-caller in the Power Five, and that experience will be very beneficial as we develop our offense. Our student-athletes are going to love working with Coach Mehringer and will learn a ton from him both as football players and as young men. I am excited to welcome Drew and his wife, Morgan, to the Duck family, and want to congratulate them as they anticipate the birth of their first child together.”
The Ducks’ offensive staff is now filled out.
Kenny Dillingham will serve as the offensive coordinator. Adrian Klemm will serve as the offensive line coach. Junior Adams has a co-OC title and will serve as the wideout coach. On the defensive side of the ball, Lanning has announced the hirings of Matt Powledge to be the new co-defensive coordinator, Demetrice Martin to be the team’s corners coach, Tony Tuioti to be the Ducks’ defensive line coach, and Joe Lorig to be the nickels coach and special teams coordinator.