Oregon's Bellotti resigns; heir-designate Kelly to take reins

EUGENE, Ore. -- Mike Bellotti is stepping down as Oregon's coach to become the school's athletic director, and offensive coordinator Chip Kelly will be promoted to head coach.

• Dodd: Smooth transition
•  Coaching Carousel

Bellotti, who has coached the Ducks for the last 14 seasons, takes over his new position July 1, replacing athletic director Pat Kilkenny. Kelly becomes coach on March 30, the opening day of spring practice, the school announced Friday.

The moves first were announced in December, but no timetable was set for the transition.

Bellotti will serve in the interim as senior counselor to Kilkenny, who will step down June 30.

Mike Bellotti's final game as Oregon coach was the Ducks' Holiday Bowl victory over Oklahoma State. (AP)

Bellotti, 58, has gone 116-55 as coach of the Ducks. This past season Oregon went 10-3 with a 42-31 win over Oklahoma State in the Holiday Bowl. The Ducks finished the season ranked No. 10.

The announcement Friday came as a surprise. Many assumed Bellotti would coach for at least one more season. As recently as the national letter-of-intent day for recruits, he said he had not made a decision but hinted it could come this month.

Bellotti said he had to sit down with Kilkenny and Oregon president Dave Frohnmayer to discuss what the position entailed.

"I have an understanding to a degree but I really don't know some of the inner workings," Bellotti said at the time.

Frohnmayer is retiring at the end of June after 15 years at Oregon. On Friday the university announced that University of Kansas provost Richard Lariviere will succeed him.

Bellotti informed the team of his decision Friday morning.

Under Bellotti, the Ducks have gone to 12 bowl games. In 2001 Oregon won 11 games, including a 38-16 victory over Colorado in the Fiesta Bowl to finish ranked No. 2.