Coaching Eras

Took over a program that hadn't had a winning season since 1970. First 7 teams won only 22 games combined. But he stuck around. Led Oregon to their first bowl since 1963 (1989 Independence Bowl). Won the 1994 Pac-10 title, Oregon's first outright conference championship ever. Rose Bowl vs Penn State (L 20-38). Named Pac-10 Coach of the Year and won the Paul 'Bear' Bryant Award. Left for the NFL. The field at Autzen is named after him.

Oregon's winningest coach (116-55). Took the program from 'regional contender' to 'national brand.' First four 10-win seasons in school history (2000, 2001, 2005, 2008). Joey Harrington and the 2001 Fiesta Bowl put Oregon on the map. Hired Chip Kelly as OC in 2007. Elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 2014. His greatest legacy might be building the house that Kelly burned down in the best possible way.

86.8% win rate. Changed what Oregon football meant. The spread offense at warp speed. Nike uniforms every week. 49.5 PPG in 2012. BCS Championship appearance in 2010 (L to Auburn by 3). 4 BCS/Rose Bowl appearances in 4 years. Left for the Philadelphia Eagles after the 2012 season. Oregon has been chasing that standard ever since.

Inherited the Kelly machine. Rode it to the Heisman (Mariota, 2014) and the first-ever CFP Championship game. Beat FSU 59-20 in the semifinal. Then Ohio State 42-20 in the title game. Then the talent dried up. 9-4 in 2015 with Vernon Adams at QB. 4-8 in 2016. No bowl. Lost to Washington 70-21. Fired. The cautionary tale of what happens when a system loses its architect.

One season. Hired from South Florida with high expectations. Justin Herbert broke his collarbone. Lost 4 straight in midseason. Beat Oregon State 69-10 to close the regular season. Then left for Florida State before the bowl game (Cristobal coached the Las Vegas Bowl loss to Boise State as interim). Oregon fans have never forgiven the one-and-done departure.

35-13. Rose Bowl champion (28-27 over Wisconsin, 2019). Two Pac-12 titles. Raised recruiting from mid-tier to top-10 nationally. Herbert, Penei Sewell, Kayvon Thibodeaux were all Cristobal recruits or developments. But also lost to Stanford when it mattered and left for Miami after 2021. His recruiting laid the foundation for everything Lanning built.

48-8 in 4 years. 85.7% win rate. Won the Big Ten in year 1. Three straight CFP appearances. Back-to-back 13-win seasons (first in program history). Beat Ohio State 32-31 at Autzen (2024). But: Rose Bowl loss, Peach Bowl blowout. Both coordinators left after 2025 (Stein to Kentucky, Lupoi to Cal). Promoted Mehringer and Hampton. Moore came back. The DL came back. This is year 5. The window is open.