Even before Chip Kelly left Oregon to become the new coach of the Philadelphia Eagles, it was reported and widely believed that the Ducks would stay in-house and hire the team’s offensive coordinator, Mark Helfrich, to run the program.
Oregon interviewed five other candidates -- it had to -- but it would have been considered an upset if anybody but Helfrich was named Kelly’s successor.
But there was no upset on Sunday. As expected, Helfrich was named the new head coach at Oregon. He will have a five-year contract worth $9 million.
“Growing up in Oregon, raised about two hours from here, playing pick-up football in Autzen before there was all this other stuff around Atuzen Stadium and dreaming of someday playing in Autzen Stadium. Luckily, for Duck fans, I was never allowed to play in Autzen Stadium. Coach [Rich] Brooks and Coach [Mike] Bellotti at that time made a very good evaluation. But I had a couple high school games in there and that was the extent of that dream.
“My dad went to school and played here, my uncle played here, my brother, his wife, my mom, so many family and friends that went to school here just make this home. Coaching at Oregon is the pinnacle for me.”
The Ducks have been one of the highest-scoring offenses in college football under Helfrich and Kelly. This past season, Oregon ranked second in points per game 49.6, third in rushing yards with 315.2 and averaged 537 yards per game. Oregon also averaged roughly 81 plays per game this year, with the Ducks running 96 in the season-opener against Arkansas State.
(Hat tip: coachingsearch.com)