Oregon Football: 3 head coaching candidates who’d lead Ducks to national title

1. Chip Kelly

You knew this was coming, but are you really surprised? Chip Kelly absolutely needs to be at the top of the Ducks’ list right now and you have to wonder if he’d be willing to throw away what he’s been building at UCLA for a return “home” to Oregon.

Oregon was Kelly’s first big break back in 2009 after spending two seasons as the offensive coordinator and he immediately had success. He went 10-3 in his first season with a Pac-12 title and a Rose Bowl berth and then had four combined losses in his final three seasons in Eugene. He was 46-7 in his four seasons with Oregon and the Ducks haven’t been able to replicate that since.

Kelly was 33-3 in conference play with three conference titles, two division titles, two BCS bowl wins, and a loss in the BCS National Championship in 2010. He always had the Ducks on the brink of winning it all but came just short on a couple of occasions.

If he can win big at Oregon the first time around with minimal head coaching experience, just imagine how much success he could have in round two.

Kelly has been at UCLA for the past four seasons, going 18-25 and he just had his first breakout season with the Bruins, going 8-4 in 2021 and leading them to a bowl game. He’s trending in the right direction and it feels like he’s finally getting back on track so would he throw it away for another chance with Oregon?

I think he would and I feel like Oregon would be lucky to have him back.