Oregon head football coach Chip Kelly.

Despite rumors circulating since the early December decision to label Kelly as head-coach-in-waiting – in order to keep him away from Syracuse or any other program that was calling – it wasn’t until March 13 that it became official.

After 14 years at the helm, Bellotti stepped down as coach on March 13 to become athletic director and Kelly, the former University of New Hampshire offensive coordinator, took the reins of the Ducks football program.

His first major task was finding someone to fill his old spot as the team’s offensive coordinator.

Again rumors began swirling – the two biggest surrounding former Tennessee quarterback Tee Martin (recently hired as quarterbacks coach at New Mexico) or Ryan Day (a QB in Kelly’s University of New Hampshire offense from 1997-2001 and a tight ends coach in 2002, now wide receivers coach at Boston College).

AP PHOTO - Former Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Jon Gruden, left, yells at quarterback Luke McCown during the fourth quarter of a football game against the Houston Texans on Sunday, Dec. 9, 2007, in Houston.

Gruden and Kelly have a blossoming relationship.

Two weeks after being fired as head coach of the Bucs, Gruden was voicing his desire to learn the spread offense, in particular Chip Kelly’s spread at Oregon.

Kelly traveled to Tampa this February “to visit him (Gruden) and talk football.”

If Gruden really wants to learn the spread, why not just immerse himself?

In a Feb. 8 article in the Orlando Sentinel, Gruden was asked if his new desire would make people think he wants to coach college football.

Gruden’s response was straight to the point:

“No. It means I want to learn more football,” he said. “I’m going to pick out two or three cool colleges that I think have great offenses. Great places. I want to go to Oregon. I want my son to go to Oregon football camp, and I want to learn what the Oregon Ducks are doing on offense . . . I want to go in there and try to be a guest coach.”

Days after Kelly was named head coach of the Ducks, he contacted Gruden again. Instead of being a “guest coach,” Kelly offered Gruden the job of offensive coordinator.

Unfortunately for Kelly and Oregon, it appears Gruden decided to stand by what he told the Sentinel. He wants to learn the spread for future use in the National Football League. A telephone message left with Gruden’s agent Bob LaMonte on Thursday afternoon hadn’t been returned as of 8:35 p.m.

Kelly said his offer was appreciated, but not accepted.

“He told me he wanted to learn the system,” Kelly said, “but that he just wanted to take a year off from coaching and spend time with his family. I was taking a shot. He’s a great coach and teacher. He’s still getting a paycheck from Tampa, so he can afford to take some time off.”

Gruden had three years left on his contract following a contract extension last winter when the Bucs fired him.

For now, Kelly will continue to run the offense, with some help from a familiar face.

Bellotti is back on the football field for spring practice working with the quarterbacks. It’s giving Kelly more time to find his offensive coordinator.

“Mike is helping me out,” Kelly said. “It’s a big help for me. I can take more time finding my replacement.”

- GEORGE SCIONE

Tags: Boston College, Bucs, Chip Kelly, Eugene, Jon Gruden, Mike Bellotti, New Mexico, offensive coordinator, Ore., Oregon, Orlando Sentinel, Ryan Day, spread offense, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Tee Martin, Tennessee, UNH, University of New Hampshire, University of Oregon