EUGENE — One of the most important factors in a head coach's success is picking the right person to run the ball on the opposite side of his field, and for Oregon coach Dan Lanning, that meant picking the right offensive coordinator.
After a stellar year as Oregon's offensive coordinator, Kenny Dillingham left to take the reins at Arizona State, handing the reins to current coordinator Will Stein, who was phenomenal in his first year with the Ducks.
Stein is being paid a lot for his job, making him the 11th highest paid offensive coordinator in all of college football. Some have questioned how a coach as young as Stein can be paid so much, but if his first year on the job is any indication, Stein will be worth the big payday.
Needless to say, Stein inherited an extremely strong offensive line at Oregon that featured first-round draft pick quarterback Bo Nix, Denver Broncos rookie Troy Franklin, Bucky Irving and Tez Johnson. This undoubtedly enhanced Stein's ability to put together an elite offensive line, but many teams have had much worse results with more highly-regarded talent.
Looking ahead to 2024, Oregon's offense has the potential to be even better than it was last year, when it ranked first in passing yards per game and just 40th in the country in rushing. That kind of balance is almost unheard of in the college game and is a testament to Coach Stein's ability to get the most out of a deep and talented roster.
Stein starts with Oklahoma transfer and Heisman Trophy candidate Dillon Gabriel at quarterback, a very talented running back in Jordan James and talented receivers in Tez Johnson and Evan Stewart. Oregon also has one of the best offensive lines in the country, which should help with everything the Ducks want to do on offense.
The future is bright for Will Stein and the entire Oregon offense, and while Stein's salary is relatively high, it seems well worth it as the Ducks head into 2024.
