Oregon announces Tosh Lupoi as new defensive coordinator, linebackers coach
Tosh Lupoi is officially official.
It has long been reported that Lupoi was destined to join coach Dan Lanning’s staff at Oregon, and with the Jacksonville Jaguars’ season coming to an end on Sunday, it’s now official. The Ducks announced Lupoi’s hire on Monday. He’ll hold the defensive coordinator title and coach the team’s linebackers.
An 𝗲𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗲 defensive mind is coming to Eugene.@CoachDanLanning has finalized his full-time, on-field coaching staff for 2022 with the hiring of Tosh Lupoi as the Ducks' defensive coordinator and linebackers coach. Welcome, @CoachLup! #GoDucks
More: https://t.co/Rv7oo7KhqG pic.twitter.com/rLtozeYHaO
— Oregon Football (@oregonfootball) January 10, 2022
“I am incredibly excited to have Tosh Lupoi joining us here at Oregon,” Lanning said in a release. “We want to play championship-level defense on a consistent basis, and Coach Lupoi is one of the very best defensive minds in the country. I am looking forward to seeing him work with student-athletes again after spending the last few seasons in the NFL, experience that will be very valuable for our program.
“I had the opportunity to work first-hand with Coach Lupoi at Alabama, where his tireless work ethic and coaching acumen set him apart as one of the game’s elite coaches while coordinating one of the top defenses in the nation. His familiarity with the West Coast and the Pac-12 also makes him a great fit here in Eugene. This is a very exciting hire for the Ducks. I am thrilled to welcome Tosh and his wife, Jordan, as well as their son, Locke, and daughter, Logan, to the Oregon family.”
Lupoi, 40, spent five seasons in Tuscaloosa before heading to the NFL. He was a defensive line coach for the Cleveland Browns (2019), Atlanta Falcons (2020), and now the Jaguars. Before that, he was on staff with the Tide in 2015 when Lanning was a grad assistant. In 2016, Lupoi moved on to coach outside linebackers for the Crimson Tide before being promoted in 2017 to co-defensive coordinator. Lupoi helped the Tide to a national championship in 2017, and after defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt left for Tennessee, Lupoi became the full-time defensive coordinator in 2018.
The California native also had stops in the Pac-12 before joining the Alabama staff. He was a defensive line coach at Cal from 2008 to 2011, and then the run game coordinator and d-line coach at Washington in 2012 and 2013, though he left Seattle amid some controversy.
His recruiting prowess is well-documented. Lupoi was the primary recruiter for 19 top-150 recruits, according to 247 Sports, including Tua Tagavailoa, Najee Harris, Keenan Allen, and Shaq Thompson.
“I want to thank Coach Lanning for the opportunity to come to the University of Oregon and join the terrific staff he has put together,” Lupoi said. “I am really excited to return to college football at one of the premier spots in the nation, where we will work tirelessly to provide the very best experience for our student-athletes. We will do everything we can to help them reach their full potential as both football players and quality young men. Coach Lanning is building something special in Eugene, and I cannot wait to be a part of it.”
With his hiring, Lanning’s first coaching staff is now complete. Here’s how it looks:
- Kenny Dillingham, offensive coordinator, quarterbacks
- Junior Adams, co-offensive coordinator, wideouts
- Adrian Klemm, run game coordinator, offensive line
- Carlos Locklyn, running backs
- Drew Mehringer, tight ends
- Tosh Lupoi, defensive coordinator, linebackers
- Matt Powledge, c0-defensive coordinator
- Joe Lorig, special teams coordinator, nickels
- Demetrice Martin, passing game coordinator, corners
- Tony Tuioti, defensive line