Report: Mark Helfrich is Bears OC, out of Arizona coaching search
Jan 11, 2018, 8:52 AM
Oregon coach Mark Helfrich, left, and Arizona coach Rich Rodriguez speak prior to their Pac-12 Conference championship NCAA college football game Friday, Dec. 5, 2014, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)
(AP Photo/Ben Margot)
Former Oregon head coach Mark Helfrich has agreed to join the Chicago Bears as offensive coordinator under new head coach Matt Nagy, reports ESPN’s Adam Schefter, and that means he’s out of the running to become the Arizona Wildcats’ head coach.
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and the Chicago Sun Times’ Adam Jahns, Helfrich might’ve had a choice to join the Wildcats or head to Chicago for his first NFL job.
Mark Helfrich has made his choice. The #Bears are finalizing a deal to make him their new OC, I’m told. Matt Nagy continues to mix West Coast with spread, as Andy Reid has done.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 11, 2018
The Oregon native has made stops at Boise State (1998-2000), Arizona State (2001-2005), Colorado (2006-08) and Oregon (2009-2012) as an assistant. He became the replacement to head coach Chip Kelly at Oregon and coached the Ducks from 2013-16 before spending this past season as an analyst.
Kelly, the newly-hired UCLA coach, had interest in adding Helfrich as his offensive coordinator, according to Jahns.
Arizona’s coaching search to replace fired coach Rich Rodriguez continues.
Reports that former UCLA coach Rick Neuheisel was a serious candidate were rebuffed on Wednesday.
Former Texas A&M coach Kevin Sumlin remains a candidate, according to WildcatAuthority.com’s Jason Scheer. Current Western Kentucky head coach and former Stanford assistant Mike Sanford, who has made pit stops at Boise State and Notre Dame in the last few years, is now in the mix.
Western Kentucky Athletic Director Todd Stewart told reporters that Sanford denied that he was considering the Arizona job.
We can't confirm that Mike Sanford has an offer at this time, but we do believe he is a finalist for the Arizona job. Would be surprised if this all drags out one way or another.
— Jason Scheer (@JasonScheer) January 11, 2018
I do think Kevin Sumlin is still a candidate because I have not received word for him not to be. Will say if it does not get done, money was likely biggest obstacle. At the end of the day, only so much an AD can do financially.
— Jason Scheer (@JasonScheer) January 11, 2018
Previously, former LSU coach Les Miles’ name cropped up with regard to the Arizona job opening. ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg added that Cal offensive coordinator Beau Baldwin and Troy head coach Neal Brown were also discussed.
Sources told FootballScoop.com that Brown and Neuheisel are no longer in the running.
