Official: WSU's Dave Yost headed to Oregon as quarterbacks coach

According to several reports, including Football Scoop, Washington State inside receivers coach Dave Yost is headed to Oregon. Cougfan, citing two sources, reported yesterday that a move was possible ($).

UPDATE: Oregon head coach Mark Helfrich officially announced Dave Yost as the Ducks' new quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator in a release Wednesday afternoon.

"We are very excited to welcome David Yost to the Oregon football family," Helfrich said. "He brings a wealth of experience as a QB coach and offensive coordinator, success as a national recruiter, and is an intelligent, dedicated family man."

Bruce Feldman of FOX Sports reports that Yost will be the Ducks' new quarterbacks coach. Duck Territory, an affiliate of 247 Sports, reported yesterday that the two sides were talking, then followed up today saying "Yost may have more responsibilities than just being the Oregon quarterback coach."

Yost joined Mike Leach's staff in 2013 after spending 12 seasons at Missouri where he served as the quarterbacks coach, offensive coordinator and recruiting coordinator, though he flew somewhat under the radar in Pullman. Yost rarely, if ever, gave media interviews and did not publicly speak at football specific fan events, something that was understood when he joined the staff.

As is the case in most coaching changes, the immediate response is how the departure will impact recruiting, given we're less than a month away from signing day. Of the 26 prospects verbally committed or signed in the 2016 class, zero had Yost — who spot recruited California, Eastern Washington, Idaho and Montana — as a primary recruiter. I would expect there to be a very minimal recruiting impact, if any.

Staff continuity is always important in college football, and having already lost Graham Harrell to North Texas this offseason, it's a little worrisome to lose both quarterback gurus outside Leach on staff. New outside receivers coach Dave Nichol will be an immediate asset in the booth as Leach's "eye in the sky," though the inside receivers job will help there, too.

Ultimately, given the attractiveness of the opening, it could be a cool opportunity to get some young blood on the recruiting trail, but a hire may not be announced for some time. And with recruiting picking up steam Thursday, it would make sense to promote an interim staffer to head out on the road until signing day, similar to what they've done in the past with Jarrail Jackson and Harrell after coaching changes.