Update: Mark Helfrich told reporters Sunday that he spoke with athletic director Rob Mullens on the phone and the two have planned to meet "midweek." Helfrich added that, should he return, he doesn't foresee any staff changes being made.
Original story
Oregon's Mark Helfrich was on shaky ground heading into the final Saturday of the season, and following 34-24 loss to rival Oregon State, it seems that ground has opened up and swallowed him whole.
According to a report from USA Today, Oregon is making plans to fire Helfrich and begin a coaching search that has been in preparation for "several weeks."
The report states that the Ducks had been hoping to keep Helfrich for another season due to the coaching landscape and the massive $11.6 million buyout on his contract, but this latest loss just made the entire situation untenable.
Saturday's loss dropped Oregon to 4-8 on the season and brought Helfrich's career mark in Eugene to 37-16. While things started off wonderfully for Helfrich after he replaced Chip Kelly, the tide has turned in the wrong direction the last two seasons.
Since losing to Ohio State in the title game two years ago, the Ducks have gone 13-12 overall, 9-9 in the Pac-12. Recruiting has slipped as well with teams like Washington beginning to move in on a lot of recruits that Oregon had been able to land successfully during the Chip Kelly era.
While there is no clear favorite to replace Helfrich, the USA Today report lists Western Michigan's P.J. Fleck and Boise State's Bryan Harsin as two candidates for the job.
