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5 potential replacements for Mark Helfrich at Oregon

By John Buhler

Nov 26, 2016; Corvallis, OR, USA; Oregon Ducks head coach Mark Helfrich walks onto the field before the game against the Oregon State Beavers at Reser Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Olmos-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 26, 2016; Corvallis, OR, USA; Oregon Ducks head coach Mark Helfrich walks onto the field before the game against the Oregon State Beavers at Reser Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Olmos-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 26, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish head coach Brian Kelly leads his players onto the field for the game against the USC Trojans at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 26, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish head coach Brian Kelly leads his players onto the field for the game against the USC Trojans at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Brian Kelly, Notre Dame Fighting Irish head coach

So Brian Kelly may be looking for other employment opportunities outside of South Bend, Indiana? Kelly has been the best head coach the Notre Dame Fighting Irish have had since Lou Holtz, but the Irish faithful have grown weary of Kelly’s sideline antics and cutthroat honesty.

Notre Dame doesn’t understand just how difficult this job is in 2016. Strict academic standards, no in-state talent, not playing in a Power 5 conference, bad weather, constant Catholic overtones. None of those things help Notre Dame be a perennial National Championship contender. Kelly might have had a down year at Notre Dame, but replacing him in South Bend will be next to impossible.

The rumors of Kelly looking for another job are out because his agent wants them out. It is either to get a raise after a 4-8 season at Notre Dame or to put his name out there for a better gig in his eyes.

Oregon would have to be the first place Kelly would consider relocating to. Purdue would be a good fit as well, but the athletic resources available in Eugene thanks to Knight are otherworldly. Like Notre Dame, Oregon has to recruit nationally to land top-tier talent. Kelly has done this for years in South Bend and could do the same for the Ducks.

Oregon football would look completely different under Kelly, but would a strong defensive culture be the best way to wrangle Stanford and Washington annually in the Pac-12 North? The cultural fit is not ideal between Kelly and Eugene, but sometimes the best things are the ones that feel the most uncomfortable. Oregon would be lucky to have a great head coach in Kelly.

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