Oregon Ducks football team names Tosh Lupoi as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach

The Oregon Ducks on Monday officially announced Tosh Lupoi as the team's new defensive coordinator and linebackers coach.

Lupoi spent last season as the defensive line coach for the Jacksonville Jaguars, his third year in the NFL. He also spent the 2020 season in the same role with the Atlanta Falcons and the Cleveland Browns in 2019.

Last week, Oregon announced Lupoi would make $1.7 million each year for three years, totaling $5.1 million.

Previous coverage: Oregon announces new defensive coordinator's contract details

"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 in a statement. "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."

Lupoi will work with co-defensive coordinator Matt Powledge, who was hired Dec. 17. The Ducks have also added Demetrice Martin (cornerbacks/passing game coordinator), Tony Tuioti (defensive line), and Joe Lorig (special teams and nickels) in recent weeks.

More on recent UO Duck football hires

• Ducks hire Baylor's Matt Powledge as football team's co-defensive coordinator

• Ducks football team announces two new assistant coaching hires

• Report: Ducks expected to hire Penn State special teams coordinator Joe Lorig

Lupoi began his coaching career in the Pac-12 in California (2008-11) and Washington (2012-13) as a defensive line coach. He then headed to Alabama where he spent the next five seasons (2013-18) in a variety of roles for the Crimson Tide.

Lupoi was elevated to the role of defensive coordinator in 2018, helping the Crimson Tide to a fourth straight national championship game as he helped Quinnen Williams win the Outland Trophy as the best interior lineman in college football. Alabama ranked 12th nationally in scoring defense (17.8 PPG) and 16th in total defense (319.5 YPG), and Lupoi mentored a pair of first-team all-Americans in Williams and Dieonte Thompson. Williams went on to be selected third overall in the 2019 NFL Draft.

"I am incredibly excited to have Tosh Lupoi joining us here at Oregon," Oregon coach Dan Lanning said. "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, an experience that will be very valuable for our program.

"I had the opportunity to work firsthand 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 history and 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 their daughter, Logan, to the Oregon family."

Contact Register-Guard sportswriter Antwan Staley at astaley@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter @antwanstaley.

This article originally appeared on Register-Guard: Tosh Lupoi officially named as Oregon Ducks' defensive coordinator