The Oregon Ducks went an extremely disappointing 4-8 this season, and have now officially fired head coach Mark Helfrich. They are now the unquestioned top available opening with Texas and LSU already filling their positions, and as a result, the Ducks could have their pick of virtually any interested coach they choose. So, who will they look at to be their next head coach? Here are the top 8 candidates:
8) Lane Kiffin, offensive coordinator, Alabama Crimson Tide
Yes, this may seem like a horrible idea, but Kiffin has rehabbed his image enough under Nick Saban for him to get another head coaching job. Oregon would undoubtedly quiz him on what he learned under Saban and wouldn't give him a long-term deal. It would be a gamble, but someone is going to take it. Remember, Kiffin is still young (41), is one of the best coordinators in the country, and has ties to the West Coach after being the head coach at USC as well as of the Oakland Raiders.
7) P.J. Fleck, head coach, Western Michigan Broncos
Fleck is one of the rising stars in the coaching world, taking the Broncos from a 1-11 team in 2013, his first year on the job, to 12-0 (with road wins over Northwestern and Illinois) and a chance at a New Year's Six bowl this year. At just 35 years old, he could bring a young energy to an Oregon program that's looking for someone to provide a spark.
6) Dana Holgorsen, head coach, West Virginia Mountaineers
Holgorsen hasn't always been great at WVU, but he is 44-30 in six seasons and 9-2 this year (with a chance for a 10th win on Saturday against Baylor). His up-tempo spread offense also makes him a good fit in Eugene.
5) Larry Fedora, head coach, North Carolina Tar Heels
Fedora's name has been mentioned with every job opening this offseason due to his success at North Carolina, and is one of the top candidates Oregon has identified. After leading the Heels to an 11-3 record last year, they went a solid 8-4 this season. However, losses to Duke and NC State over the last three weeks dampened his stock some.
4) Dan Mullen, head coach, Mississippi State Bulldogs
Mullen showed what he can do by taking Mississippi State to the No. 1 ranking in the country for most of the 2014 season, but it appears that he's taken the Bulldogs has far as he can take them and could be looking to a job upgrade. If he was able to make Mississippi State one of the best teams in the country, imagine what he can do with everything Oregon has to offer.
3) Bryan Harsin, head coach, Boise State Broncos
Harsin has maintained Boise State's high level of success since taking over the program, going 31-8 in his three seasons at the helm - including a Fiesta Bowl victory in 2014. 247sports reports that Harsin was Oregon's favorite to replace Helfrich, but Boise then lost to Air Force, who Harsin has yet to beat with the Broncos. That may have dampened their feelings towards him.
2) Mike MacIntyre, head coach, Colorado Buffaloes
MacIntyre might not want to leave Colorado for another team in the Pac-12 (he may not want to leave CU at all), but the job he has done has certainly peaked Oregon's interest. The Buffs were 1-11 the year before McIntyre got there, and now in his fourth year, they are a top 10 team that can win the Pac-12 title on Friday. He also turned the program around at San Jose State before moving to Colorado.
1) Chip Kelly, head coach, San Francisco 49ers
This is a huge pipedream in Eugene, and while there's very little chance of it actually happening, Oregon will do everything they can on their end to make it work. Kelly brought Oregon to national prominence, and his job with the 49ers may be in question given their 1-10 record. He has said he wants to stay in the NFL, but if there are no options available for him at that level, why not go back to Oregon?
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