OR fires head coach Mark Helfrich after four seasons

FILE – In this October 1, 2016, file photo.

“The only person I’ve talked to [at Oregon] is [fired coach Mark Helfrich]”, Kelly said when asked a follow-up question about the Ducks.

(AP Photo/Young Kwak, File).

OR had not fired a football coach in 40 years, and the school owes Helfrich an $11.6 million buyout for the final three years of a contract extension he signed in February 2015, shortly after the Ducks lost to Ohio State in the inaugural CFP title game.

One losing season was enough.

Fleck aside, OR could target coaches like Frost, Boise State’s Bryan Harsin and South Florida’s Willie Taggart, and Knight’s ability to write a substantial check could put the Ducks in play for bigger names, although they’ve lost their ability to target new Texas coach Tom Herman. “We want somebody who embraces student-athlete experience, who understands the high expectations at the University of OR, who understands our community and really wants to be here”.

Mullens said he made the decision Tuesday before he and Helfrich met to discuss the coach’s job status. OR has hired an executive search firm to aid in the process. “We want somebody who embraces the student experience, who understands the high expectations at the University of OR, who understands our community, you know, really, really wants to be here”.

Kelly posted a 46-7 mark with OR from 2009-12 before venturing off to the National Football League to coach the Philadelphia Eagles. Kelly will have the first opportunity to draft a quarterback meant specifically for his offensive system. Who should the Ducks target next?

McMurphy reports that Mississippi State’s Dan Mullen, South Florida’s Willie Taggart, Western Michigan’s P.J. Fleck, Florida’s Jim McElwain, North Carolina’s Larry Fedora, West Virginia’s Dana Holgerson, Central Florida’s Scott Frost, and Boise State’s Bryan Harsin are all expected to be candidates for the position.

Head coach Mike Bellotti added Chip Kelly as his offensive coordinator in that season and thus the “Oregon Mystique” was born. He was asked if there was a chance he’d be coach of the Ducks and he shook his head and said simply “No”.

The cracks were showing in that 9-4 season, the first with fewer than 10 wins since 2007. “He’s a tremendous person”.

Check out the highlights from Week 13 of college football and where each team is ranked in the Amway Coaches Poll. Kelly was 46-7 in four seasons at OR, winning three Pac-12 Conference championships along the way.

“When you take this job, or you have a job like this, that’s how it goes”, Helfrich said after Oregon lost 34-24 to Oregon State in Saturday’s Civil War. Southern Methodist comes in at number one. If you would like to discuss another topic, look for a relevant article.

Mullens said the school will search “far and wide” for their new coach.

OR fired Kelly’s successor, Mark Helfrich, on Tuesday after four seasons and a 37-16 record.

At least not the school he left four years ago.

KOIN 6 News spoke to students about Helfrich’s firing, and many said they’d miss him.

OR does not have a natural recruiting base, and many other programs have caught up to the Ducks in terms of top-notch facilities and flashy uniforms. Dakota Prukop won twice to open 2016 before giving way to true freshman Justin Herbert in the midst of an ensuing five-game losing streak.

The Ducks also had trouble on defense. Defensive coordinator Brady Hoke’s deal runs through January 16, 2019. Fleck is capable of making OR a unique brand again, as he’s proven to be a tireless, successful recruiter who has an offense that is scoring almost 45 points per game.

Making things worse were the Ducks’ performance against rivals Washington and Oregon State.

The decision comes after days of speculation on Helfrich’s future. Just felt for him and the rest of the guys on that staff. But I guess I can’t control that and that seems to be the nature of the business whether I like it or not. “But it’s a business”.