Oregon head coach Mike Bellotti withdrew his name from consideration for the vacant Ohio State coaching spot Tuesday, one day after visiting the Buckeyes’ campus with his family.
In between was a wild 24 hours that consisted of numerous television, radio, Internet and newspaper reports that linked Bellotti to Ohio State.
Bellotti arrived back in Eugene early Tuesday morning and then called Oregon athletic director Bill Moos at 11:30 a.m. to inform him of his decision to remain with the Ducks.
“My family and I visited the [Ohio State] university because I do think it is one of the quality programs in the United States,” Bellotti said in a released statement. “I was very impressed with the environment, but it just reinforced my commitment to Oregon.”
Bellotti was in southern California Tuesday on a recruiting trip and was not scheduled to return to Eugene until Friday afternoon. Moos, however, was available to meet with the media and didn’t concern himself with the reports that Ohio State was willing to pay close to $2 million per season.
“It was not about money,” Moos said. “Mike wanted to explore the opportunity at a traditional football powerhouse and compare it to Oregon. I’m very relieved that Mike chose to stay with us.”
Bellotti was reportedly Ohio State’s top candidate and did meet with the Buckeyes’ athletic director, Andy Geiger, who gave him a tour of the Woody Hayes Athletic Complex. Geiger was unavailable for comment.
On Tuesday, though, Youngstown State head coach Jim Tressel was in Columbus, Ohio, touring the campus, while reports surfaced that Oakland Raiders head coach John Gruden was the new top candidate for the Buckeyes’ job.
Meanwhile, Bellotti mentioned how the situation at Oregon is comparable to that at tradition-filled Ohio State.
“I felt the interest was genuine on [Ohio State’s] part,” Bellotti said. “But there is a uniqueness to our program that I wanted to continue to be involved in.”
Bellotti’s sudden visit to Columbus surprised many, as it came less than two months after his decision to take his name out of consideration for the Southern California head coaching position.
“Yeah, I had no idea it was coming; by the time I heard about it he was already in Ohio,” Oregon junior quarterback Joey Harrington said. “I’m happy, the same reaction I had when he pulled out of USC. I know he was making the decision for what was best for him and his family.”
Bellotti, 50, is a self-labeled “family man,” who has mentioned that staying in Eugene was important to him so he could be more a part of his three children’s lives. He said that he’s been offered “four of five jobs” during his Oregon tenure, but that this was the first time that he’s taken his wife, Colleen, and his children with him on a campus visit.
Moos, however, mentioned how close he is with Bellotti as a friend and a co-worker and said he remained confident that he wouldn’t have to hire a new coach.
“I honestly felt that this was something that was a compliment to him and what he had accomplished,” Moos said. “If he wanted to go take a look at it, he should so he could have that behind him and say, ‘Hey, I could have been the coach at USC or Ohio State, but I’m proud to be the coach at the University of Oregon.’”
Bellotti has a 49-22 record in his six years as head coach for the Ducks, and has guided Oregon to four straight bowl games. Oregon finished the season ranked seventh in the final Associated Press poll, while Ohio State dropped out of the poll after an 8-4 season and a 24-7 loss in the Outback Bowl.
“The U of O has become a destination and not a stepping stone,” Moos said.