Coaching Carousel (Oregon Ducks)

Ohio State, Texas, USC, Florida, and Notre Dame might be the top jobs in college football.  But Oregon is right behind them.  The Ducks had always seemed to be an after thought in the Pac 12, but it when Mike Bellotti took over when the Ducks 1995 things began to change.  They won a share of the Pac 12 in 2000 and in 2001 the Ducks should have played for a National Title (Nebraska sneaked in).  But in 2006 Bellotti hired an unknown Chip Kelly to be his offensive coordinator from New Hampshire.  The rest is history. 

Kelly's uptempo offense jump started the Ducks, Bellotti was forced out, Kelly took over and turned the Ducks into the hippest program and a regular National Title Contender.  With Kelly's uptempo spread offense paired with Phil Knight's Nike money the Ducks are a very popular team.  They seem to be on the cutting edge of what's cool. And that has transformed the Ducks from a Pac 12 doormat to one of the top programs in the nation. 

Kelly's departure is going to hurt, but he's set the Ducks up for success.  Add in that Phil Knight's money and influence isn't going anywhere, the Ducks should be in a good situation to continue their success.  But to do so, they need to make a good hire here.  Luckily they've have some qualified candidates.

Listed below are the people I think have a shot to get the job.  I've only listed three people because I honestly think that they'll hire on of these three people.  I'd be shocked if they went outside of this group.

Potential Candidates

Mark Helfrich (Oregon Offensive Coordinator)
He has the be the odds on favorite.  Mainly because the Ducks want to keep some continuity and Helfrich has been Kelly's OC since he took over.  Kelly has endorsed Helrich and believes he can keep the program rolling.  But the concern is that Helfrich didn't call the plays and now that Kelly is gone, will he be as dynamic of a play caller?  But you can't ignore that their AD publicly stated that Helfrich would take over if Kelly left.  All signs point to him.

Nick Aliotti (Oregon Defensive Coordinator)
Here is another in house candidate that could get the job if they feel that Helfrich isn't the guy.  Unlike Helfrich, Aliotti has actually made the calls on his side of the ball and has had more control.  His defenses haven't been at the elite level, but because of the offense that the Ducks run it's probably never going to be the guy.  But Aliotti is probably at best the 2nd choice here.

Chris Peterson (Boise State Head Coach)
If the Ducks are going to go to the outside the first person they have to call is Chris Peterson.  Even though his name gets thrown out for every big job opening, this is one that he would probably think long and hard about.  Everything about this job fits what Peterson would like.  Add in that Peterson has coached at Oregon previously and it makes it all the more tempting.  If anybody is going to be hired from the outside it's him.  But that's if Oregon wants him and if he wants to go to Oregon.