NCAA Football: Mark Helfrich Signs 5-Year $17.5M Contract Extension To Coach Oregon Ducks

Head coach Mark Helfrich has signed a five-year $17.5 million contract extension with Oregon Ducks through the 2019-2020 college football season. Helfrich, who is the coach of the team for the past two seasons, has led Oregon to the College Football Playoff National Championship in his second year with the Ducks.

"Mark has provided tremendous leadership of our football program and the values and character that he insists upon are in line with our mission as an institution," Oregon athletic director Rob Mullens said in an official statement from the school. "The success of our student-athletes on the field and in the classroom will continue with Mark's leadership and we are thrilled that he will stay at home in Oregon for a long time to come.”

According to Fox Sports, he will earn an additional $500,000 if the Ducks go all the way to the national title as part of the bonus and incentives of the five-year deal. The 41-year-old Helfrich, who is from Oregon, has led the Ducks to a 24-4 record in his first two seasons and appeared in the championship game last season. The Oregon Ducks lost to the Ohio State Buckeyes, 42-20 in the national championship.

Helfrich is also 15-3 in the Pac-12 conference play and was vital in helping quarterback Marcus Mariota become the first Duck to win the Heisman Trophy. Led by Helfrich, Oregon landed 10th in the nation in total passing yards per game at 312.5 yards and fourth overall in points per game at 45.4 the past year.

Helfrich is the first native Oregonian to become the head coach of the school. A former quarterback for Southern Oregon from 1992 to 1995, Helfrich’s coaching stint started with Oregon back in 1997 as a graduate assistant. He became the quarterbacks coach for Boise State and Oregon State from 1998 to 2005 before becoming the offensive coordinator/QB coach for Colorado and Oregon from 2006 to 2012.

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