> At a Glance
> – Dan Lanning and wife Sauphia met in 2005 while working at an Outback Steakhouse in Missouri
> – They married in 2009 and have three sons: Caden, Kniles, and Titan
> – Sauphia battled osteosarcoma in 2016-2017 with Dan by her side
> – Why it matters: The Oregon coach credits his wife as his “rock” and says she’s been the true “head coach at home” throughout his career
Dan Lanning’s rise to the 2026 College Football Playoff has unfolded under the steady gaze of Sauphia Lanning, the marketing coordinator he met serving tables nearly two decades ago. Their partnership-tested by cancer, long-distance moves, and the relentless grind of coaching-now anchors the Oregon Ducks program as it vies for a national title.
From Steakhouse to Sideline
In 2005, Dan was a William Jewell College linebacker and Sauphia a NorthWest Missouri State advertising student. Both took shifts at a Liberty, Missouri, Outback Steakhouse-he as a server, she as the to-go specialist.
By 2009, the couple had tied the knot in Richmond, Missouri, skipping a traditional rehearsal dinner to catch a high-school football game the night before their wedding. They soon welcomed three sons:
- Caden
- Kniles
- Titan
Cancer, Tattoos, and Uniform Design
The Lannings’ bond deepened in 2016 when doctors diagnosed Sauphia with osteosarcoma. Treatments stretched into 2017, and Dan paused career ambitions to be her caregiver.
To honor her fight, Dan added a rib-cage tattoo in 2023 that features:
- Sauphia’s portrait
- The boys’ names
- Kansas City’s 816 area code
- A boomerang for the steakhouse where they met
- A yellow ribbon symbolizing her cancer journey
When Nike approached the family about designing a “Cancer Awareness” uniform, Sauphia insisted the jersey ribbons represent all forms of the disease, not just her own.
Balancing Careers and Family
Away from football, Sauphia has spent a decade as a marketing coordinator at H&R Block, specializing in:
- Media planning
- Graphic design
- Campaign strategy
She rarely posts publicly, but on X she reshapes Oregon Ducks content and, in February 2024, captioned a family photo: “I like me better when I’m with you.”
Dan told College GameDay in 2024 that early in his career he was “really, really selfish,” yet Sauphia “was like so on board for me to chase” his coaching dreams.
Key Takeaways
- Dan and Sauphia Lanning have been together since 2005, married since 2009
- Three sons keep the family grounded amid a nomadic coaching life
- Cancer diagnosis in 2016 forged an even stronger partnership
- Sauphia’s marketing eye shaped Oregon’s cancer-awareness uniforms
- Dan calls her the family’s “head coach at home” while he leads the Ducks
As Dan Lanning stalks the sideline in pursuit of a championship, Sauphia remains the quiet force who turned a chance steakhouse encounter into two decades of unwavering support.
