APOregon did the expected earlier Sunday afternoon and hired offensive coordinator Mark Helfrich to be the Ducks’ new coach. If nothing else, UO kept the hire in-house, something the program has done for decades.
Former Ducks coach and athletic director Mike Bellotti knows a thing or two about that. He joined Rich Brooks‘ staff as an OC in Eugene in 1989 and succeeded Brooks in 1995. So when it was time to name Helfrich as Chip Kelly‘s successor, Bellotti gave his stamp of approval.
“It’s great for everybody and it’s a great opportunity for Mark,” Bellotti said via the Oregonian. “It was important for the continuity of the program. Hopefully they’ll maintain as much of the coaching staff as they can and hopefully salvage the recruiting class.”
Helfrich was going to be named Oregon’s coach had Chip Kelly bolted to the NFL last year as he was expected to do. By all accounts, Helfrich is cut from practically the same cloth as Kelly and promised in Sunday’s presser that just about everything was going to remain the same.
Hopefully for his sake, and Oregon’s, that includes winning an average of 11 games a year.
I like this hire and love Scott Frost moving to OC. Rare continuity in this program through the coaching ranks. Love my sucks!
Does everything being the same mean they keep choking in 1 game a year they should win or in a matchup with a top team in a bowl game?
They should be fine! They subscribe to some really good recruiting services.
As long as Phil Knight is around, they’ll be fine.
Still am left with my “Big Balls Chip” t-shirt. Headed for ebay I guess. Look for it Eagles fans. Hope Helfrich can continue that edge, not physically imposing, but mentally imposing. Your physicality vs our mentality. Go for two, go on fourth down, start the ball moving then go, go, go, defensive mistakes and in a blink you are down by 20. Chip was fun to watch coach – hopefully MH adds Chip to the pile and goes all in!!
Special shot out to Benny K!
Wanna say I appreciate you putting up with my rants any time you post a story critical of UM or the ACC.
I just got deleted on a couple stories over on PFT for criticizing those guys…I didn’t realize they did that?!?!?..guess they don’t like my nonesense…..you are a good sport with homers like me.
Thanks man!