Oregon severs ties with Mark Helfrich

Oregon Ducks athletic director Rob Mullens announced Tuesday that head football coach Mark Helfrich would not be back next season, ending his tenure at the school at four years.

"We want to thank Mark for his eight years with the University of Oregon and appreciate his efforts on behalf of Oregon football," Mullens said. "We wish Mark and his family the best."

Helfrich coached the Ducks to a 37-16 record after taking over from Chip Kelly in 2013. He led the team to the College Football Playoff championship game after the 2014 regular season, but the Ducks went 9-4 in 2015 and fell to 4-8 this season, including a 34-24 defeat at Oregon State on Saturday.

"It is a great honor to have served as the head football coach at the University of Oregon," Helfrich said. "It is with respect and disappointment that we receive this decision. Plain and simple -- we didn't win enough games this season."

This was the first season since 2004 that Oregon finished with a losing record and without a bowl appearance. The Ducks had won at least nine games in eight consecutive seasons prior to this one.

The unusual development for Oregon, which last fired its football coach in 1976, will be an expensive one.

Due to terms of his buyout, Helfrich, 43, is owed $11.6 million for the remaining three years of his contract, according to The Oregonian. The staff is also owed a combined $3.7 million in buyouts, if none are retained.