Mike Bellotti Steps Down as HC of the Fighting Hi-Liters

Head Coach in Waiting Chip Kelly takes the reins of the program on March 30.

Bellotti to take over as AD on July 1.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=3977901

 

Wow! I thought he would for sure finish out the season.

As much as I don't care for Oregon, the couple times I talked with Bellotti he seemed like a good guy.

 

Good guy, great coach. As an alum, I'm glad he'll be looming over Kelly's shoulder. I hope the transition's a smooth one.

 

yeah, that's a fucking shame. [/makingjerkingoffmotion]

 

Canzano of the Oregonian surmises it's bad news for Kent, but I really don't think Bellotti wants to have a new fb coach and a new hoops coach going into his first year. The timing of the thing is kind of odd though.

 

why? he helped secure the new incoming class by being up front in his recruiting. i think it was wise.

 

I would agree with you. Don't know that Bellotti would want to mess with a basketball hire right now.

And after going 2-16 in the Pac 10, I think Ernie has more immediate problems to worry about.

 

I'd bet the three-month delay on Kelly taking over FB vs. Bellotti taking over as AD is so that Kilkenny can off Ernie Kent and Bev Smith and Bellotti can start with a fresh slate.

I'm sad and excited ... sad that Bellotti is leaving the FB helm, excited Kelly's taking over and intrigued at the prospect of Bellotti running the athletics show.

 

Heard a local sports guy mention that the sad part about Bellotti leaving is that they most likely would have ended up with a better and more experienced coach than Chip Kelly. A Kyle Whittingham, Mike Leach, Chris Petersen, or Brian Kelly type.