Gary Crowton hadn't had a winning season since 2001 when he lost to the University of Utah last November. Just 11 days later, he didn't have a job.
But the former Cougar head coach now has a high-profile position at a BCS school that's noted for prolific offense. And it's a position one local coach is very familiar with.
Oregon football coach Mike Bellotti hired Crowton on Tuesday as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for the Ducks. Crowton, 47, who resigned under pressure on Dec. 1 after four seasons with the Cougars, will replace Andy Ludwig, who left Oregon last month to become offensive coordinator at Utah under new head coach Kyle Whittingham.
After three straight losing seasons in Provo, it appears Crowton has landed on his feet.
"I'm excited for the opportunity to join a program as well-established and with the reputation of the University of Oregon," Crowton said. "It's an honor for me to work with Coach Bellotti and I look forward to the challenges of working with the players, coaches and administrators already in place."
Oregon, a Pac-10 school noted for having excellent facilities, made a run at the national championship in 2001. The No. 2 Ducks were relegated to the Fiesta Bowl, where they beat No. 3 Colorado 38-16. Oregon's high-powered offense was led that season by quarterback Joey Harrington, now the starter with the Detroit Lions.
In 2004, however, the Ducks fell to 5-6, ending the year with three straight losses and failing to earn a bowl bid.
At BYU, Crowton won his first 12 games of the 2001 season, but lost his final two. The Cougars finished 5-7 in 2002 and followed that up with a 4-8 record in 2003, the worst in 30 seasons.
Last season, BYU finished 5-6, didn't go to a bowl game for a third consecutive season and lost to Utah, 52-21. Crowton was replaced by defensive coordinator Bronco Mendenhall, who Crowton brought in from the University of New Mexico prior to the 2003 season.
"I'm thrilled for coach Crowton and this new opportunity for him and his family," Mendenhall said. "He is one of the best offensive minds in college football today and will make the most of this opportunity."
Crowton, a native of Orem, will become the fifth offensive coordinator to work under Bellotti at Oregon.
"I've known Gary Crowton for three years and known of him for about 10 or 15 years," Bellotti said. "He's been an excellent football coach, both as a head coach and an offensive coordinator at the Division I level and in the National Football League. He's had great success coordinating offenses, he knows how to make quarterbacks successful, he's very innovative and creative within the offensive structure and his philosophy fits well with mine.
"He was a great hit during his interview with our coaches and players, and I'm very excited about what he can bring to our offensive attack.
"I like his personality, the way he presents his ideas and concepts, and the fact that he has experience with both two-back and one-back offenses, including option and spread attacks. I think he is a perfect fit for what we want to do in the future with our personnel and where we want to go with this offense."
The university said Crowton's annual base salary on a two-year contract will be $150,000 with $60,000 in supplemental income.
Some of the top Oregon players he will have for next season include senior quarterback Kellen Clemens, senior tight end Tim Day, senior tailback Terrence Whitehead and senior receiver Demetrius Williams.
"I just felt comfortable there," Crowton said. "I interviewed at a few different places and had a few different options."
From 1996 to 1998, Crowton coached Louisiana Tech to a 21-13 record that included wins over Mississippi State, California and Alabama. Crowton's offense scored more than 50 points in eight games, and six times it scored more than 60.
The Bulldogs averaged more than 4,200 yards passing a season while Crowton was coach.