January 16, 2013

Oregon Coaching Search Hot Board

A.J. Jacobson









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Oregon is a program known for the continuity of their coaching staff. From 1977 to 1994 it was Rich Brooks at the helm. He then handed the reins to his offensive coordinator Mike Bellotti who was the head man until he moved upstairs to become Athletic Director in 2008.


Chip Kelly was hired by Bellotti as offensive coordinator in 2007 and was promoted to head coach when Bellotti took the new position and has been at the helm since then.


Kelly's decision to move to the NFL means the Ducks will be looking for their fourth head coach in the last 35 years.


 



Duck Sports Authority Coaching Hot Board


Head Coach Top Candidates
 



Mark Helfrich


Record: N/A


Salary: $367,583



Coaching stops: Oregon Offensive Coordinator (2009-present), Colorado Offensive Coordinator (2006-2008), ASU QB Coach (2001-2005), Boise State QB Coach (1998-2000), Oregon GA (1997)



Background: Helfrich has substantial experience with quarterbacks and offenses, and under his guidance Colorado's improved dramatically and during his time at Oregon has worked with Chip Kelly to produce one of the nation's most prolific offenses.



Pros and cons: The biggest plus for Helfrich is that he provides continuity to a highly successful program and system. Since Chip Kelly was promoted to head coach and Mark Helrich was hired as offensive coordinator, the Ducks have gone to four straight BCS Bowls. Having no head coaching experience would be cause for concern for some, although he is certainly a frontrunner for a program who places high value on continuing their formulas for success.


 



Chris Peterson


Record: 84-8 as Boise State head coach



Salary: $1,959,833 +$290k bonus possible



Coaching stops: Head Coach Boise State (2006-present), Boise State Offensive Coordinator (2001-2005), Oregon WR Coach (1995-2000), Portland State QB Coach (1993-1994), Pittsburg QB Coach (1992), UC Davis WR Coach (1989-1991).



Background: Peterson has been highly successful as a head coach for Boise State, constantly churning out double-digit wins for the last seven years, the first five of those against WAC competition, the last two as members of the Mountain West. Due to his six years as an Oregon assistant and his success with the Broncos, Peterson has consistenly been mentioned as a prime target for the Ducks should need arise over the years.



Pros and cons: Certainly Peterson will be very highly considered as one of their top choices should Oregon choose not to promote Helfrich.His offensive-mindedness coupled with his culture of winning are all things that would fit well with the void left by Kelly's departure. The drawbacks could be that the disruption of newly imposed systems would cause a hiccup in the Duck's success.

 




Charlie Strong


Record: 23-12 as Louisville head coach



Salary: $2,305,000 +$692k bonus possible



Coaching experience: Lousville head coach (2010-present), Florida AHC/DC (2002-2009), South Carolina defensive coordinator (1999-2001), Notre Dame DL coach (1995-1998), Florida AH/DT coach (1991-1994), Ole Miss WR coach (1990),Florida OLB coach (1988-1989), Southern Illinois WR coach (1986-1987)


Background: Strong was long thought to be a quality head coaching candidate but had to wait years to get an athletic director to give him a chance, which Louisville did two years ago and it's paid off with a resurgence in football that has them poised for a conference title and a BCS bowl berth. Strong is an Arkansas native with strong ties to the SEC having worked at three different conference schools including great success at Florida. Louisville is paying Strong over $2 million a year on average with his current pact and is vowing to do what it takes to keep him there.



Pros and cons: Strong has a great understanding of life in the SEC, But not in the Pac-12. But he's recruited and coached successfully in a good conference. A defensive mind, Strong's defenses in the SEC were always successful and as a head coach at Louisville he's assembled talent and put a good team on the field quickly. The downside would be that his success with the Cardinals, fairly or not, is tempered by the fact that the Big East is not a very good conference. The other issue might be a bidding war for Strong who is likely to be courted by several schools and Strong has said he has no desire to leave Louisville, but many feel that's coach speak.


 





James Franklin


Record:15-11 as Vanderbilt head coach



Salary: $3 million approx.



Coaching stops: Vanderbilt head coach 2011-present, Maryland offensive coordinator 2008-2010, Kansas State OC/QB 2006-2007, Green Bay Packers WR 2005, Maryland WR 2000-2004, Idaho State WR 1999, WSU TE 1998, James Madison WR 1997.



Background: Franklin has a great deal of experience at different places with different aspects of offenses, and one year as defensive backs coach with East Stroudsburg early in his career. A quarterback in college, he was a Division II player of the year nominee in 1994.



Pros and cons: Looking to replace Chip Kelly would require an offensive-minded coach which Franklin certainly is. His variety of jobs at various levels across the nation, coupled with solid D-1 coaching experience, would give Franklin a good basis to draw upon as a head coach at Oregon. Still, he has never coached on the west coast so his background and network of high school contacts would not be as effective in recruiting as others.


 





Art Briles


Record: 33-30 as head coach at Baylor



Salary: $2,232,807



Coaching stops: Baylor head coach (2008-present), Texas Tech RB (2000-2002), Stephenville HS (Tex.) (1988-1999), Georgetown HS (Tex.) (1986-1987), Hamlin HS (Tex.) 1984-1985.



Background: Briles was a wide reciever at the University of Houston and began learning the coaching craft at the high school level, working his way up through the coaching ranks over over the last four decades. Briles took his current head coaching position with Baylor after five solid seasons with Houston, where his team finished first in Conference USA twice during that span. He has turned the Baylor program around from a couple 4-8 years early as head coach to three straight winning campaigns including two consecutive bowl wins.



Pros and cons: Briles is another potential coaching target for the Ducks without west coast coaching experience and contacts. On the other hand, Oregon recruits nationally now and Texas has been one of their prime targets. Briles has an extensive football background to draw from and could find a way to continue the success in Eugene that Oregon fans are used to