Georgia DC Dan Lanning will be a Head Coach Sooner Than Later

Dan Lanning is one of the best young defensive coordinators in college football, and sooner than later, he will be off to a head coaching job somewhere.

Young and energetic. Those are two words that not only describe Georgia defensive coordinator Dan Lanning, but they are two words that are on the top of the list of requirements for most athletics directors across the country that are looking to hire a new head football coach. 

It's a grinding and grueling profession that requires a high level of energy and adaptability that will lead to success on the collegiate and even professional levels. Sure, experience is often valued, but it's lately been falling down the list of requirements. 

Here's a list of prominent Power-5 head coaches and the age at which they were hired: 

• Lincoln Riley, 34 (Oklahoma)
• P.J. Fleck, 37 (Minnesota)
• Eli Drinkwitz, 36 (Missouri)
• Mike Norvell, 39 (Florida State) 
• Kirby Smart, 39 (Georgia)
• Ryan Day, 41 (Ohio State) 

Hiring young coaches isn't exclusive to college football either: 

• Sean McVay, 30 (Rams)
• Zac Taylor, 36 (Bengals) 
• Brian Flores, 38 (Dolphins) 
• Matt LaFleur, 39 (Packers) 

Lanning is only 34-years-old, so he's still got some time to continue to learn under Smart. However, P.J. Fleck was a head coach at Western Michigan at the age of 33. Mike Norvell, Lanning's former co-worker and friend at Arizona State was the head coach at Memphis at the age 37. Eli Drinkwitz took his first head coaching job at Appalachian State when he was 35. 

If, and when Georgia's defense plays in 2021 to the caliber they are capable of, Lanning's name will continue to circulate for job openings across the country. 

It may not be a Power-5 program initially, just like Fleck, Norvell, Drinkwitz and countless others, and he may have to work his way back into the Power-5 after turning a mid-major program around, but there's little to no doubt that Lanning will be a head coach someday. And more likely than not, it's going to be sooner rather than later. 

And when he does take a job elsewhere, Glenn Schumann is lying in the weeds as Smart's next wunderkind. Schumann is an incredibly smart and analytical football coach that helps run a lot of Georgia's defensive meetings. In fact, when Smart goes to coaching clinics across the country, it's Schumann who tags along to help run the clinic. 

Schumann just turned 30. 

You can follow us for future coverage by clicking "Follow" on the top righthand corner of the page. Also, be sure to like us on Facebook @BulldogMaven & follow us on Twitter at @DawgsDailySI.