EUGENE — Marcus Arroyo intends to serve as Oregon’s offensive coordinator in the Rose Bowl.
During his introductory press conference as UNLV’s new head coach Friday morning in Las Vegas, Arroyo said he is “already full, two feet, all the way in” to his new job, which will pay him $7.7 million over five years, but will stay on with the No. 6 Ducks for the Jan. 1 game against No. 8 Wisconsin.
“The Rose Bowl is an opportunity that I plan on being a part of,” Arroyo said. "That is ultra exciting for what we’ve done and the athletes that I’ve had a chance to be a part of. Again, that’s an awesome thing.
“But I’m locked in here and have been full-speed ahead since we had this conversation about the opportunity.”
Arroyo has earned $55,000 in bonuses for helping lead Oregon to a Pac-12 Championship, though $30,000 of that is contingent on his coaching in the bowl game. His salary at UO this year is $825,000, was due $850,000 next year and his buyout of 20 percent of his salary is waived if because he did so to become an FBS head coach.
He was asked generally about the staff he will hire at UNLV but he did not address specific candidates.
Multiple reports in Las Vegas indicated Oregon safeties coach Keith Heyward is a potential candidate to be Arroyo’s defensive coordinator.
Heyward is earning $600,000 at Oregon, while UNLV’s top assistant earned $250,000 this season. However, play-calling experience is typically a significant factor when Power 5 programs have coordinator openings.