Chip Kelly To Become Head Coach At Oregon While Mike Bellotti Moves To Athletic Director

 

Oregon has selected offensive coordinator Chip Kelly to take over as football head coach coach and Mike Bellotti will become the athletic director.

The school president Dave Frohnmayer released this statement on Tuesday:

“Today I’m announcing a transition plan to assure the athletics department continues its momentum as one of the premier programs in the country. “I am grateful Mike and Chip will continue to serve the university, the athletics department and the football program. While the exact timing of the changes is yet to be determined, I wanted to announce the intended changes to establish the future direction of the department.”

The longest-tenured head football coach in the Pac-10 Conference, the 57-year- old Bellotti has compiled a record of 115-55 in 14 seasons at Oregon while guiding the program to 12 bowl appearances. The Ducks went to 9-3 this season following Saturday’s 65-38 win at Oregon State.

Kelly has been the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach the last two seasons following eight years as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at New Hampshire.

In Phoenix, Ariz., recruiting Tuesday, Bellotti said:

“I don’t have a timeline. I’m not going to coach for 20 years and I’m not going to coach for 10 years. Other than that I wouldn’t put any limits on it.”

He said he will coach Oregon in its upcoming bowl game, most likely the Holiday Bowl on Dec. 30 in San Diego, Calif.

And Kelly, 45, arrived in Eugene from the University of New Hampshire, where he coached at for 13 years.

“I really realized what a special place Oregon is and I really don’t want to go anywhere else,” he said, adding that he will not speak with any other schools in the future about possible job openings. “I’m a Duck.”