Oregon fired head coach Mark Helfrich Tuesday night after four seasons in which the Ducks suffered declining win totals.
"We want to thank Mark for his eight years with the University of Oregon and appreciate his efforts on behalf of Oregon football," Oregon athletics director Rob Mullens said in a statement. "We wish Mark and his family the best."
Helfrich put together a respectable 37-16 record during his brief tenure as Oregon's head coach but after an 11-win in 2013 and a 13-win season in 2014, the Ducks slipped to nine wins in 2015 and a 4-8 in 2016 _ its worst season since 1991.
"It is a great honor to have served as the head football coach at the University of Oregon," Helfrich said. "It is with respect and disappointment that we receive this decision. Plain and simple _ we didn't win enough games this season."
Helfrich joined Chip Kelly's staff in 2009 as offensive coordinator and helped put Oregon on the map as one of the top offensive programs in the country. The Ducks went from averaging just over 400 of total offense in 2009 to 537 yards in 2012. His teams have consistently been among the leaders in the nation in scoring offense.
The offense wasn't the problem, it was the defense that struggled.
The Ducks ranked No. 126 out of 128 schools in total defense after allowing more than 518 yards per game. This after Helfrich hired former Michigan coach Brady Hoke as the program's new defensive coordinator in the offseason.
First-year UCF coach Scott Frost was an offensive coordinator at Oregon and has been linked to the Ducks job, but many have suggested he needs more experience as a head coach and the Ducks are in need of a slam dunk hire ready to win immediately.
UCF athletics director Danny White told the Orlando Sentinel Saturday Frost, who helped the Knights bounce back from a winless season by posting a 6-6 mark this year, was not looking elsewhere and is committed to helping the Knights succeed in the national spotlight.
Oregon becomes the 10th program to make a coaching change this season and the fourth among the Power 5 conferences (Texas, LSU and Purdue).
