Oregon coaching search: Chip Kelly, Bryan Harsin among list of candidates to replace Mario Cristobal

Oregon shed head mentor Mario Cristobal to Miami on Monday, leaving a person of the West Coast’s premier applications with out a chief just nine times ahead of the Early Signing Period of time. 

Cristobal was an inside hire just after Willie Taggart departed for Florida State next his initially and only time as head mentor. The previous Alabama associate head mentor and FIU head mentor, Cristobal transformed the Ducks into a winner with a combination of powerful recruiting and staff hires. In Cristobal’s 4 yrs with the software. the Ducks won consecutive Pac-12 titles and just played for a third. 

Just after getting rid of two consecutive coaches to Electricity Five applications in Florida, Oregon has a conclusion to make. The Ducks can test to keep on the East Coast recruiting pipeline that has taken the software to Pac-12 championships in modern yr. The option is getting a mentor that views Oregon as a vacation spot work, a person who will commit to the software lengthy term. 

Oregon has not built quite a few hires in excess of the previous forty yrs, so receiving a really feel for the priorities of this work is tricky. In fact, employing Taggart from South Florida is the initially exterior hire in Eugene considering the fact that Rich Brooks in 1977. Cristobal, Mike Bellotti, Mark Helfrich and Chip Kelly had been all inside promotions. 

Right here are nine candidates from a selection of various backgrounds that Oregon could look at for its subsequent head coaching work. The checklist ranges from up-and-comers to West Coast retreads and even progressive coordinators that could completely transform the software. 

Justin Wilcox, Cal mentor

Wilcox is a person of the ideal defensive coaches in university soccer and the previous Ducks defensive back again has in depth expertise coaching in the area. The a person drawback would be on offense the Golden Bears have continually been amid the lower-ranked groups in the Pac-12 on that side of the ball. Although his 26-28 report at Cal will not encourage assurance, Wilcox would have better means to recruit and acquire offensive gamers at Oregon. Blended with a large assistant wage pool to hire a powerful offensive staff, Wilcox could be a wonderful acquire-low applicant. 

Chip Kelly, UCLA mentor

Sequels are almost never as excellent as the originals, but Kelly’s initially act at Oregon was a legendary period. Three top-5 finishes and a national title video game berth served set the desk for the Ducks to grow to be a person of the hottest brands in university soccer. On the other hand, he is just 18-twenty five in 4 seasons at UCLA, nevertheless the Bruins jumped to 8-four in 2021. Nostalgia mixed with a rare 2nd prospect could be sufficient. 

Kalani Sitake, BYU mentor

Viewing Sitake earn in 2020 with initially-spherical quarterback Zach Wilson was amazing. Finishing at No. 13 in the country towards a significantly a lot more difficult agenda with out Wilson in 2021 would make Sitake a mounting star. Just after a middling start at BYU, Sitake is 21-three in excess of the previous two seasons and would deliver a tough culture to Eugene. On the other hand, Sitake has been content at his alma mater. With an possibility to changeover the software into the Massive 12, the draw of Oregon may well not be fairly as powerful. 

Bryan Harsin, Auburn mentor

There have been rumblings that Harsin may well be seeking to get out of Auburn just after a 6-6 time, and Oregon would be a powerful changeover for the previous Boise State mentor. He led the Broncos to a 69-19 report in 7 seasons, which include three Mountain West titles. One probable complication? Oregon has a vaccine mandate. Harsin has not been forthcoming about his vaccination position as Auburn’s vaccine deadline strategies (personnel have to be thoroughly vaccinated by Jan. 18). Just after looking at Wazzu go by the Nick Rolovich saga, Harsin’s lack of transparency may perhaps persuade the Ducks to prevent the drama.  

Tony Elliott, Clemson OC

Although Elliott has coached for his complete job in the condition of South Carolina, he was born in California. Elliott would deliver a equivalent variety of East Coast recruiting pipeline as Cristobal and his elevation to assistant head mentor reveals what Dabo Swinney thinks of him. His offense struggled mightily in 2021 for a selection of explanations, but Elliott has had sufficient results across his job to look at it a blip. 

Andy Avalos, Boise State mentor

Avalos served as defensive coordinator on Cristobal’s staff throughout two Pac-12 title operates ahead of returning to his alma mater as head mentor. He had a shaky start to his head coaching job with the Broncos, but they ended 2021 by profitable 5 of their final 7 game titles, which include wins in excess of Fresno State and No. 13 BYU. If Oregon wishes a youthful, West Coast head mentor with familiarity with the software, Avalos would be an intriguing wager. 

Matt Campbell, Iowa State mentor

Campbell has gotten consideration for pretty much each individual work in The united states in excess of the previous many yrs, but has opted to stay at Iowa State. Oregon could be the type of software exactly where he could establish his “5-star culture” with time and supplemental means. Of system, Campbell may well also just be content at Iowa State. 

Dave Aranda, Baylor mentor

Aranda has also been rumored for pretty much each individual work in The united states just after top the Bears to an eleven-two report and Massive 12 championship, but he has expressed minor desire in leaving just after two seasons. For Oregon, nevertheless, it’s value creating the contact. Aranda has held new USC mentor Lincoln Riley to three of his 4 worst offensive performances as a head mentor. If Riley is the common at USC, there are worse selections out there than Aranda. 

Joe Brady, previous Panthers OC

Brady was regarded briefly for NFL head coaching jobs a yr back, but his stock has bottomed out just after receiving fired by the Panthers mid-time. On the other hand, Brady is even now the architect of perhaps the greatest offense in university soccer heritage at LSU in 2019. If the Ducks want to counter USC’s new offensive mind with an offensive innovator of their possess, Brady is an solution. On the other hand, Oregon may well also be able to land Brady as an offensive coordinator.