The Mark Helfrich era in Eugene has likely reached its end.
On Saturday night, the Oregon Ducks fell to 4-8 on the season after falling to in-state rival Oregon State, and now the team is expected to fire Helfrich.
The report comes via USA TODAY Sports, which also indicates a new head coaching search is expected to get underway.
There was initially some belief that Oregon could retain Helfrich due to his significant buyout and the team’s upset win over Utah, but the loss to the Beavers this weekend appears to be too much to overcome.
From the report:
Given the difficult coaching marketplace and the $11.6 million buyout he’s owed, Oregon’s powerbrokers were hoping there would be enough reasons to keep Helfrich following the Ducks’ upset win at Utah. But Oregon’s 34-24 loss at Oregon State essentially erased any notion that the school could legitimately make the argument to keep Helfrich, who is 37-16 overall (4-8 in 2016) but has overseen significant slippage in both on-field performance and recruiting since the 2014 national championship game appearance.
Western Michigan’s P.J. Fleck and Boise State’s Bryan Harsin have been identified as potential candidates.
In his four seasons leading the Ducks, Helfrich has compiled a 37-16 record, while going 2-2 in bowl games.
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Photo Credit: Twitter/Oregon Football
