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The Oregon Ducks are in the market for a head coach.
The school announced Tuesday that it has fired coach Mark Helfrich after four years.
The Ducks, who went 4-8 this season, losing their final game of the year to rival Oregon State, won the Rose Bowl and played in the College Football Championship Game two seasons ago.
Helfrich was 37-16 in his four years at Oregon, having been promoted from offensive coordinator after former Ducks head coach Chip Kelly left Eugene to take the head coaching job with the Philadelphia Eagles. Helfrich was credited for recruiting Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Mariota as an assistant coach.
Oregon had not fired a head football coach in 40 years before Tuesday.
"It is a great honor to have served as the head football coach at the University of Oregon," Helfrich said in a statement. "It is with respect and disappointment that we receive this decision. Plain and simple — we didn't win enough games this season."
Helfrich's buyout is $11.6 million. He is expected to be paid the full amount.
Boosted by Nike founder Phil Knight, Oregon is one of the most unusual jobs in college athletics. It is unlikely money will be an issue in their coaching search — Oregon reportedly met with Tom Herman before Texas named him head coach Sunday — but the Ducks have typically used neighboring California as a recruiting base, as the state of Oregon does not produce many Power Five-level football players.
Football Program Getting New Direction https://t.co/MgibLINKXY
— Oregon Football (@WinTheDay) November 30, 2016
