Who is Adrian Klemm and why is he a great candidate for the Oregon Ducks?
Ruben B. Hughes
2 min read
An earlier report was formalized Monday morning, with Pete Thamel confirming Oregon Ducks bring in Adrian Klemm to be their new offensive line coach under Dan Lanning. On top of that, Klemm will also serve as an assistant coach for the team, as well as the running game coordinator.
It sounds like a lot of responsibility for a single coach, but once you learn more about Klemm you’ll understand why he’s the man for the job. So who is Adrian Klemm?
In short, Klemm is the former Pittsburgh Steelers offensive line coach. He’s been with the Steelers since 2019 and has done well at the NFL level, learning under the guidance of well-respected head coach Mike Tomlin. Prior to that, Klemm had extensive experience at the college level, working as the running game coordinator and associate head coach for the UCLA Bruins. Prior to that, he was the O-Line trainer and recruiting coordinator for the SMU Mustangs.
Prior to his coaching tenure, Klemm was a highly successful NFL player, winning a Super Bowl trio with Tom Brady and the New England Patriots in the early 2000s.
So why is this a great rental for the Ducks? Well, simply because he tells us two main things about Dan Lanning and the program as a whole. First, it shows that Lanning is looking for experienced coaches who have proven they can get the job done at a high level. Klemm has experience in the NFL and his reputation as a recruiter should not be ignored. He is yet another coach with great recruiting links both in Texas and on Coach West.
Second, it cannot be ignored how important it is for an NFL offensive line coach to come to college for the same job. It shows the kind of weight Oregon can have on the national landscape. Of course, Klemm has a few other hats to wear besides his OL duties, but the fact that he’s coming back to college for something other than a coordinator position is encouraging for Duck fans. It means there is enthusiasm for what Lanning is building in Eugene and people want to join in.
We’ll see how things play out over the next few weeks and the rest of the coaching staff is full, but at the start the signs are really encouraging for the Ducks as Dan Lanning continues to add impactful elements to the staff.
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