EUGENE, Ore. (AP) — Mark Helfrich makes his debut as third-ranked Oregon’s head coach on Saturday when the Ducks host the lower-tier Nicholls State Colonels.
The team’s former offensive coordinator took over when Chip Kelly left in January for the Philadelphia Eagles. Kelly, credited with developing Oregon’s breakneck spread offense, took ascending Oregon to a BCS bowl game in each of his four years as head coach, compiling a 46-7 record. The Ducks played in the 2011 national championship game against Auburn.
So it’s no surprise that Helfrich says he won’t change much now that he’s in charge.
Oregon finished 12-1 last season and defeated Kansas State 35-17 in the Fiesta Bowl. The Ducks’ flashy offense averaged 49.5 points per game last season, second in the nation.
