The Oregon Ducks have effectively retained their assistant coaches this offseason, but one, wide receivers coach Junior Adams, left the program to accept the same role in the NFL with the Dallas Cowboys.
It appears that Oregon has resolved that opening in their coaching staff, hiring former Syracuse wide receivers coach Ross Douglas to assume that role. Douglas played a key role in guiding Syracuse to an exciting passing offense, and his extensive knowledge of the Big Ten will make him feel comfortable in Oregon.
The ex-Michigan wide receiver began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Rutgers the year following his graduation. What Douglas achieved with Syracuse last year was truly remarkable. Before the 2024 season, their leading trio of wide receivers—Jackson Meeks, Trebor Pena, and Darrell Gill Jr—accumulated a combined total of 492 receiving yards throughout their careers. Last year, they scored 2,572 yards and 18 touchdowns. Meeks specifically served as a backup during his freshman, sophomore, and junior years at Georgia. After transferring to Syracuse, he emerged as the team’s top receiver last season, accumulating 1,021 receiving yards and seven touchdowns.
Douglas not only worked as the wide receivers coach at Syracuse, but he also held the position of passing game coordinator. He’s a youthful, sharp intellect in the football realm, the ideal candidate to complement Dan Lanning’s fervor and bold coaching approach. Joined by Lanning and offensive coordinator Will Stein, Douglas will introduce new concepts and enthusiasm to one of the nation’s premier passing offenses.
The role of coaching wide receivers at Oregon is vital this season. Apart from veteran Evan Stewart rejoining the squad, the Ducks will rely on a few young and untested playmakers to rise to the occasion. Depending on his performance in camp, Dakorien Moore, the top wide receiver in the 2025 recruiting class, might potentially earn a spot on the field as a true freshman. Douglas will possess a wealth of talent to utilize and will strive to elevate the Ducks’ receivers to new levels in Eugene.
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