Bellotti remains
UO’s head coach
■The Ducks’ head coach will
sign a new seven-year deal
that has better incentives
By Scott Pesznecker
Oregon Daily Emerald
Oregon head coach Mike Bellotti
followed his acceptance of the Holi
day Bowl bid with perhaps an even
bigger announcement Sunday.
The Ducks’ head coach told West
Coast media that he would sign a
new seven-year contract with Ore
gon. The new contract will give him
almost the same base salary—about
$600,000 per year — but with more
lucrative incentives to boost his an
nual paycheck.
“There have been several schools
that I’ve talked with, and I’ve said that
they’ve never got beyond those dis
cussions, and that’s true,” Bellotti
said. “At this point in time, I have
ceased any of those discussions and
am moving full speed ahead with our
preparation for the Holiday Bowl, our
» recruiting season and getting ready to
try to secure that 10th victory.
“I have always worked with the
concept or idea that this job would
be the last job I’d ever have, and I
want to make it the best job it can be. ”
News reports in the Los Angeles
Times and on on-line Web sites re
ported last week that Bellotti was
suddenly the leading candidate for
the vacant Southern California
coaching job. Rumors had it that the
Trojans offered Bellotti $1.5 million
per season for five years.
But Bellotti’s announcement end
ed all speculation that he would
seek solace in greener pastures —
for now, anyway.
“I don’t subscribe to the ‘grass-is
greener’ theory,” Bellotti said.
“Though some things bear scrutiny,
the bottom line is I am very, very
happy where I’m at; have been, and
I believe will continue to be.”
When asked if he was officially
offered a job by any school, Bellotti
paused before answering. “No,” he
said. “We had discussions.”
Emerald
Head coach Mike Bellotti has led the
Ducks to a 48-22 record in six seasons.
Oregon athletic director Bill Moos,
who sat beside Bellotti during the
press conference at the Len Casanova
Center, said Bellotti has not signed
the contract but that the two shook
hands on it earlier that morning.
“This is a great day for Oregon foot
ball and for the University of Oregon,
because I think the best football coach
in [the Pacific-10 Conference], and
quite possibly in the country, is sit
ting right next to me right now,” Moos
said. “What we’ve accomplished un
der Mike’s leadership is amazing. ”
Bellotti is currently in the fifth
year of a seven year contract with
Oregon. His six-season record as
head coach is 48-22, the best in the
Pac-10 during those years.
Junior quarterback Joey Harring
ton and senior receiver Marshaun
Tucker learned of Bellotti’s decision
to stay in Eugene during Sunday’s
press conference. Both players felt
good about their coach’s choice.
“He’s done some very good things
here,” Harrington said. “I think he’ll
continue to do things in the future. ”
“It’s a good thing for the juniors and
the sophomores and the freshmen
who are going to have a good head
coach coming back,” Tucker said.
“That can keep a tradition going. ”
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