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Oregon Fires Mark Helfrich

The University of Oregon has dismissed head football coach Mark Helfrich, the school announced Tuesday evening.

EUGENE, Oreg.—The University of Oregon has dismissed head football coach Mark Helfrich, the school announced Tuesday evening.  Helfrich went 37-16 as head coach of the Ducks in four seasons, but finished 4-8 in the 2016 season, including a loss in the finale to rival Oregon State.

Oregon is still in a search for a replacement while the buyout pricetag for Helfrich’s three remaining years on his contract is $11.6 million.

“We want to thank Mark for his eight years with the University of Oregon and appreciate his efforts on behalf of Oregon football,” Oregon athletic director Rob Mullens said in a statement.. “We wish Mark and his family the best.”

Helfrich also released a statement:
“It is a great honor to have served as the head football coach at the University of Oregon. It is with respect and disappointment that we receive this decision. Plain and simple — we didn’t win enough games this season. Thank you first to my wife, Megan, and our family, the fans, the campus community, the board, our donors and administration. To our coaches, staff and their families, it is impossible to communicate my gratitude for the environment we got to work in every single day. Finally, to the players — thank you, and I love you. The future is bright for this young, talented team, and we will be supporting them and their new leadership.”

Utah is 1-2 against the offensive guru Helfrich, with a loss at Autzen Stadium in 2013, losses at Rice-Eccles Stadium in 2014 and 2016, and a win in Eugene last season.

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