University of Memphis Athletics
Norvell Adds Lanning to Defensive Staff
Dec 08, 2015 | Football
Lanning joins Memphis staff from Alabama
Memphis football coach Mike Norvell added a coach to the defensive side of the ball on Tuesday, hiring Dan Lanning from the University of Alabama on to his first Memphis coaching staff. Lanning has spent the 2015 season at Alabama as a graduate assistant coach with the outside linebackers after spending last season as the defensive backs coach at Sam Houston State and the prior season at Arizona State.
"At Alabama, Dan Lanning was involved with one of the top defenses in the nation," Norvell said. "Throughout his career, he has been a part of developing some of the nation's top playmakers. Through his previous coaching experience, he has developed ties in the southwest and in his home state of Missouri. He is a relentless recruiter and will be an incredible addition to our coaching staff."
At Alabama, Lanning worked with a defense that currently ranks seventh in scoring defense, second in total rushing defense, seventh in pass efficiency and second in sacks.
That defensive experience builds on his background on the defensive side of the ball dating back to his coaching start in high school football at Park Hill South High School in Missouri from 2008-2010. There, he served as an assistant football coach, with special emphasis on special teams, defensive backs and wide receivers.
Lanning began his collegiate coaching career at the University of Pittsburgh as a graduate assistant in 2011, joining a staff that included then-co-offensive coordinator Norvell. The Pitt defense ranked third in the nation in sacks, 12th in tackles for loss and 21st in rushing defense. Lanning served as the assistant defensive backs coach, working with both corners and safeties, and served as a lead recruiter for several states in the Northeast. He served as the defensive backs coach during and prior to the BBVA Compass Bowl and in the spring of 2011, moved to defensive quality control, assisting with the linebackers and working with the defensive coordinator on all aspects of the defense's preparation.
In 2012, Lanning joined Norvell on Coach Todd Graham's staff at Arizona State. He spent one season as the graduate assistant working with the outside linebackers and nickelbacks and helped develop a defense that led the nation in tackles for loss, ranked second in sacks, third in pass defense and fourth in passes intercepted.
The lead recruiter for Kansas and the Mississippi Junior Colleges, Lanning helped prep a team that won the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl before being moved to on-campus recruiting coordinator/defensive assistant in 2013. Working on the day-to-day recruiting tasks, Lanning helped land a top 20 recruiting class, and on the field, helped a defense that ranked fifth in the nation in turnovers gained, third in passes intercepted and sixth in penalties against. The PAC-12 southern champions, Arizona State made a second straight bowl appearance, appearing in the Holiday Bowl Game.
Lanning left Arizona State in 2014 and headed to FCS program Sam Houston State, where he helped guide the Bearkats to an FCS semifinal playoff appearance and a Southland Conference Championship. At SHSU, he coached the defensive backs and served as the co-recruiting coordinator, with special recruiting emphasis on Houston, South Texas and the Golden Triangle. Three Bearkat players earned Southland All-conference honors and one earned All-America status in a secondary that had featured just one returning starter.
Following his playoff season at Sam Houston State, Lanning joined the program at Alabama.
A native of Richmond, Mo., Lanning played linebacker at William Jewell College (Missouri). He received a bachelor of science in physical education and a bachelor of science in secondary education in 2008 and went on to receive his Master's Degree in Secondary Administration in 2010 from William Woods University.
He and his wife, Sauphia, have three sons – Caden, Kniles and Titan.
He is the second hire for Novell's staff at Memphis, as Norvell earlier announced that he would retain current interim head coach Darrell Dickey on the Tiger staff.
"At Alabama, Dan Lanning was involved with one of the top defenses in the nation," Norvell said. "Throughout his career, he has been a part of developing some of the nation's top playmakers. Through his previous coaching experience, he has developed ties in the southwest and in his home state of Missouri. He is a relentless recruiter and will be an incredible addition to our coaching staff."
At Alabama, Lanning worked with a defense that currently ranks seventh in scoring defense, second in total rushing defense, seventh in pass efficiency and second in sacks.
That defensive experience builds on his background on the defensive side of the ball dating back to his coaching start in high school football at Park Hill South High School in Missouri from 2008-2010. There, he served as an assistant football coach, with special emphasis on special teams, defensive backs and wide receivers.
Lanning began his collegiate coaching career at the University of Pittsburgh as a graduate assistant in 2011, joining a staff that included then-co-offensive coordinator Norvell. The Pitt defense ranked third in the nation in sacks, 12th in tackles for loss and 21st in rushing defense. Lanning served as the assistant defensive backs coach, working with both corners and safeties, and served as a lead recruiter for several states in the Northeast. He served as the defensive backs coach during and prior to the BBVA Compass Bowl and in the spring of 2011, moved to defensive quality control, assisting with the linebackers and working with the defensive coordinator on all aspects of the defense's preparation.
In 2012, Lanning joined Norvell on Coach Todd Graham's staff at Arizona State. He spent one season as the graduate assistant working with the outside linebackers and nickelbacks and helped develop a defense that led the nation in tackles for loss, ranked second in sacks, third in pass defense and fourth in passes intercepted.
The lead recruiter for Kansas and the Mississippi Junior Colleges, Lanning helped prep a team that won the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl before being moved to on-campus recruiting coordinator/defensive assistant in 2013. Working on the day-to-day recruiting tasks, Lanning helped land a top 20 recruiting class, and on the field, helped a defense that ranked fifth in the nation in turnovers gained, third in passes intercepted and sixth in penalties against. The PAC-12 southern champions, Arizona State made a second straight bowl appearance, appearing in the Holiday Bowl Game.
Lanning left Arizona State in 2014 and headed to FCS program Sam Houston State, where he helped guide the Bearkats to an FCS semifinal playoff appearance and a Southland Conference Championship. At SHSU, he coached the defensive backs and served as the co-recruiting coordinator, with special recruiting emphasis on Houston, South Texas and the Golden Triangle. Three Bearkat players earned Southland All-conference honors and one earned All-America status in a secondary that had featured just one returning starter.
Following his playoff season at Sam Houston State, Lanning joined the program at Alabama.
A native of Richmond, Mo., Lanning played linebacker at William Jewell College (Missouri). He received a bachelor of science in physical education and a bachelor of science in secondary education in 2008 and went on to receive his Master's Degree in Secondary Administration in 2010 from William Woods University.
He and his wife, Sauphia, have three sons – Caden, Kniles and Titan.
He is the second hire for Novell's staff at Memphis, as Norvell earlier announced that he would retain current interim head coach Darrell Dickey on the Tiger staff.
Football: Jordon Hankins Press Conference-October 15, 2025
Wednesday, October 15
Football: Brendon Lewis Press Conference-October 15, 2025
Wednesday, October 15
Football: Tim Cramsey Press Conference-October 14, 2025
Tuesday, October 14
Football: Ryan Silverfield Press Conference-October 13, 2025
Monday, October 13