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Oregon DC Nick Aliotti to retire after Alamo Bowl

Texas' Mack Brown won't be the only coach leaving after the Alamo Bowl.

Per the school, Oregon defensive coordinator Nick Aliotti will retire after the game. The 59-year-old Aliotti has been Oregon's defensive coordinator since 1999 and got his start with the Ducks as a graduate assistant after college. He was also Oregon's defensive coordinator in the early 1990s before coaching in the NFL.

“After coaching for 38 years, it is time for a new chapter in my life and (wife) Kathryn’s,” Aliotti said in a statement. “Coaching is all I’ve ever known but it has been a labor of love and a fantastic ride.

“I’ve coached in a lot of great games in my life but the things I’m going to miss the most are the great players and assistant coaches I have had a privilege to work with. There is never an ideal time to announce these decisions because I don’t want to take away from the attention on this final game or the focus from the players who are the ones who deserve all the credit for getting us to where we are today.

“I’ve been fortunate to enjoy a great career and to step away from the game when I felt the time was right. Now is that time.”

Earlier this season, Aliotti had a colorful press conference in which he angrily called Washington State "low class" after Cougar quarterback Connor Halliday set the FBS record for passing attempts in a blowout win by the Ducks. He later apologized for his remarks and was fined by the Pac-12.

Oregon said that it would begin a "national search" for Aliotti's replacement immediately.

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Nick Bromberg

is the assistant editor of Dr. Saturday on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at nickbromberg@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!