Oregon head coach Mike Bellotti followed his acceptance of the Holiday 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 Oregon. The new contract will give him almost the same base salary — about $600,000 per year — but with more lucrative incentives to boost his annual paycheck.
“There have been several schools that I’ve talked with, and I’ve said that they’ve never got beyond those discussions, 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 reported 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 ended 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.”
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 football 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 sitting right next to me right now,” Moos said. “What we’ve accomplished under 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 Harrington 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.”