Bellotti: I'll probably decide in the next two weeks whether to return as coach or become AD

Oregon coach says he's gone from 'leaning' to 50-50, but either way, he's busy

By kerry eggers

The Portland Tribune, Mar 8, 2009, Updated Oct 30, 2009 (4 Reader comments)

JAIME VALDEZ / THE PORTLAND TRIBUNE

Mike Bellotti enjoys a postgame shower after his Oregon Ducks beat Oregon State in the 2008 Civil War game.

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EUGENE — The decision, Mike Bellotti says, will “probably” come in the next two weeks.

Whether he remains as football coach at Oregon, or moves over into the athletic director’s chair.

In arriving at the decision, I ask the UO coach, is he leaning one way or the other?

“I probably was after the season, but right now, it’s 50-50,” Bellotti says. “When you spend a couple of weeks after the season doing the things you do as coach, there is a lot of excitement. We have a chance to be a real good football team next season.”

In which direction, I ask, had he been leaning?

“I was probably leaning one way,” he says evenly, “but I’m not going to say which way.”

Bellotti is 58 and in good health. His program is stable, and as he indicates, the Ducks show the promise of being a top-25 team next season. Why would he retire as coach when things are going so well?

“That’s what a lot of people have asked me,” Bellotti says with a chuckle. “I don’t have a lot of good answers.

“One thing is, I don’t consider moving to athletic director retiring. It’s a change of scenery. I will be exchanging one set of issues for another. But why would I quit as coach? That’s the question I’m asking myself, too.”

Bellotti is not being forced out, he says.

“I would move over because it’s what I want to do,” he says.

One major reason he would do that, of course, is the emergence of offensive coordinator Chip Kelly, Oregon’s head coach-in-waiting. When Bellotti steps aside, Kelly is contracted — under very lucrative terms — to take Bellotti’s place.

“This whole idea was mine,” Bellotti says. “Chip Kelly would be the head coach at Syracuse or Mississippi State or several other places if we hadn’t moved on this.

“I recognize some unique attributes in Chip. If there’s a guy I want to take my place, it’s him. He is extremely talented and has the necessary dedication and command and foresight and is thinking football 24/7/365. All of our coaches do, but his is a passion and dedication that surpasses many. I’m excited about that.”

The other major reason, Bellotti says, is family issues.

He is back together with his ex-wife, Colleen. They are engaged to be re-married, though they haven’t yet set a wedding date.

As head football coach, Bellotti missed many of the growing-up events of his two oldest children, Luke and Keri. He’d rather not have that happen with his youngest, Sean, 14.

“This past year, I saw one half of one of his football games, and 3 1/2 of his 20-some basketball games,” Bellotti says. “That’s not going to change as long as I’m coach. I’d like to spend more time with family. (Head football coach) is not a job; it’s a lifestyle.”

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