Oregon Athletic Director
On December 2, 2008, shortly after defeating the Oregon State Beavers in the Civil War to prevent them from clinching a Rose Bowl berth, the university announced that Bellotti would pass the head coaching position on to Offensive Coordinator Chip Kelly at some undetermined point in the future and take over as the university's Athletic Director at that time.
During his tenure as athletic director, Bellotti dealt with a number of disciplinary issues involving members of the football program, including LaGarrette Blount, LaMichael James, and Jeremiah Masoli, and fired long-time basketball coach Ernie Kent, whose teams had performed poorly in recent seasons. After just nine months on the job, Bellotti announced his resignation March 19 to join ESPN as a college football analyst. Bellotti had agreed to terms with UO officials, but there was no written contract stating his salary and the $2.3 million severance payout. The resignation agreement, including the payout terms, was placed on paper and signed by Bellotti on March 16, with university president Richard Lariviere signing it on March 19. Because of the lack of an initial written contract, the Oregon Justice Department confirmed it planned to review the $2.3 million severance payment from the University of Oregon to the former athletic director.
In 2009, Bellotti was named third vice president of the American Football Coaches Association. According to AFCA tradition, he would move up to second vice president in 2010, first vice president in 2011 and president in 2012.
Read more about this topic: Mike Bellotti
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