Transition of power awaits coaches
When Rich Brooks left Oregon for the NFL’s St. Louis Rams after the 1994 season, he wanted to make sure the Ducks were left in good hands.
So Brooks persuaded the Oregon administration to hire then-offensive coordinator Mike Bellotti. That decision helped the Ducks win the Pac-10 title in 1994.
“There wasn’t a big shakeup of things when I left for the Rams,” said Brooks, who just completed his sixth season as Kentucky’s coach. “When I decided to leave, I told them they needed to name Mike Bellotti the coach immediately. Continuity is a good thing when things are going well.”
The Ducks certainly found continuity during the Bellotti era. He has led Oregon to 12 bowl appearances in 14 seasons and six Top 25 finishes in the last 10 seasons. Five of Brooks’ assistant coaches at Oregon still work for Bellotti.
espn.com
1/16/09
