Backers of the football team are breathing a huge sigh of relief today with the news that head coach will return to the school after nearly taking the head coaching job with the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

It was thought that Kelly’s departure was a done deal – he and the Bucs were down to simply negotiating contract details. But on Monday, Kelly said he was staying put. Some media outlets reported he took the job and then changed his mind, citing unidentified sources.

“I am flattered by the interest of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ organization,”Kelly said in a statement, released by the UO athletic media services department. “I enjoyed meeting with the Glazer family and General Manager Mark Dominik but after numerous discussions, I concluded that I have some unfinished business to complete at the University of Oregon.”

Kelly did not address how close he came to taking the Tampa Bay job. Considered to have one of the most innovative minds in college football, Kelly caught the nation’s attention during an eight-year run as the offensive coordinator at the University of New Hampshire.

After several seasons coaching on both sides of the ball at various schools, Kelly directed a Wildcats offense that averaged more than 400 yards per game in seven of his eight seasons and more than 30 points per game in his final four seasons. Kelly moved to Oregon as its offensive coordinator in 2007 and his potent spread offense was an immediate success as the Ducks led the Pac-10 in scoring with 38 points per game and in total offense with 468 yards per game.

The Ducks led the Pac-10 in scoring again in 2008, improving their points per game average to 41.9 and their yards per game average to 484.8 while setting school records in both categories. Those stellar offenses prompted Oregon to promote Kelly to head coach in March 2009. He responded by leading the Ducks to three straight Pac-10 titles and three consecutive BCS bowl games.

Kelly’s potential departure was seen as similar to Pete Carroll, who left Southern Cal for the Seattle Seahawks before the school was hit with NCAA sanctions. Oregon was notified last fall it is under NCAA investigation for its dealings with Willie Lyles and his scouting service. The school acknowledged paying Lyles $25,000 for information on recruits.

The situation is strikingly familiar to the Bucs coaching search in 1996 when then Florida coach Steve Spurrier came close to taking the job before deciding to remain with the Gators. The Bucs wound up hiring Tony Dungy, whose son, Eric, is now a receiver for Kelly at Oregon.

Place your college football bets at our online sportsbook!