Ducks Co-DC: 'My Time at the University of Oregon has come to an end'

Oregon Ducks co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach Keith Heyward is moving on from the team.

In a note posted to Twitter, Heyward says he’s been “blessed with a new opportunity” so his time with UO is at “an end.”

The announcement comes on the heels of reports that Cal’s defensive coordinator, Tim DeRuyter, is heading to Oregon to be the Ducks DC.

On the flip side, Heyward has been linked to join the Golden Bears staff. Don’t usually see a “coach swap” happen, but maybe we will here.

#Oregon‘s Co-DC/safeties coach Keith Heyward has emerged as a strong candidate to join the #Cal staff. Heyward worked with Justin Wilcox when the Cal head coach was the DC at Washington and then at USC.

— Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) January 25, 2021

Heyward joined the Ducks, with Mario Cristobal, in 2017 when Willie Taggart became head coach. He stayed on Cristobal after Taggart left Oregon as the Ducks co-DC and safeties coach.

Before the 2019 season, Heyward also added the assistant head coach title to his list of jobs.

Heyward played for Oregon State from 1997-2000, while starting 35 consecutive games. After his college career, he played in the Canadian Football League, NFL Europe and the Arena League.

Then, he got into coaching as a grad assistant back at OSU in 2005. He’s coached mostly in the Pac-10/12, but also had stops at Cal Poly and Louisville.

In the conference, Heyward coached at Oregon State, Washington and USC before getting to Oregon.