Oregon head football coach Mike Bellotti may not have left to coach Southern California, but the Ducks’ coaching staff will import a former Oregonian from the Trojans.
Dan Ferrigno, a 16-year assistant coach in the Pacific-10 Conference, has been hired to coach the wide receivers for the Oregon football team, Bellotti announced in a released statement Wednesday.
Ferrigno doubled as wide receivers coach and special teams coordinator in his first, and only, season with USC. The 47-year-old San Francisco native spent his previous four seasons with California, serving as tight ends coach the first three seasons and wide receivers coach in 1999.
Last season, Ferrigno helped develop USC sophomore receiver Kareem Kelly, who finished third in the Pac-10 in receptions with 55 catches for 796 yards. The Trojans ranked third in the league in passing offense with 262.3 yards per game.
He’s coached other standout players during his 26-year coaching career, including Tony Gonzalez, NFL All-Pro tight end; Nick Harris and Deltha O’Neal, first-team all-conference special teams stalwarts, at California; and NFL defensive back Reggie Tongue at Oregon State in 1995.
For the Ducks, he replaces Chris Petersen, who left to become offensive coordinator at Boise State.
“I have known Dan for almost 30 years and have personally been acquainted with him for the last 20 years and have come to know him as an exceptional football coach, recruiter and a person,” Bellotti said. “He develops great rapport with his players and fellow coaches and brings with him extensive experience in the Pac-10.
“I believe he will have a tremendous impact on our program.”
Ferrigno is no stranger to Northwest life. He spent nine seasons (1987-1995) at Oregon State, coaching the running backs through the first four years, then the secondary in 1991, the outside linebackers from 1992 to 1994 and the secondary again in 1995.
He began his coaching career as an assistant at St. Ignatius High School in San Francisco in 1975, then advanced to the college ranks in 1978 as the wide receivers and tight ends coach at San Francisco State, his alma mater.
Ferrigno worked with the tight ends and offensive line for the Golden Bears as a graduate student in 1980 and 1981.
Ferrigno was then an assistant at Western Michigan for five years, coaching running backs the first two seasons, the offensive line the next two seasons, and the quarterbacks in 1986. He was also offensive coordinator in 1985 and 1986.