EUGENE, OR -SEPTEMBER 06: A general view of Autzen Stadium during the second quarter of the game between the Oregon Ducks and the Michigan State Spartans at Autzen Stadium on September 6, 2014 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images)

Willie Taggart was believed by many to be a real good hire for the Oregon Ducks football program in the latest round of the coaching carousel, but the first few weeks of the new regime in Eugene has not exactly gone according to plan for Taggart.

On Sunday, Oregon co-offensive coordinator David Reaves was arrested and charged for a DUI offense. In response, the University of Oregon placed Reaves on administrative leave and quickly got to work on terminating his contract with the school just five days after being hired.

“University of Oregon assistant football coach David Reaves was arrested last night and charged with Driving Under the Influence by members of the Eugene Police Department,” a statement from Oregon director of athletics Rob Mullens said. “Reaves has been placed on administrative leave and the process to terminate his employment with cause has commenced. The University has high standards for the conduct of employees and is addressing this matter with the utmost of seriousness.” 

This likely means Taggart must decide between handing off all of the offensive coordinator duties to Mario Cristobal or scramble to find another option to split the offensive coordinator responsibilities. Reaves was to be the tight ends coach and passing game coordinator.

The controversy surrounding the arrest of Reaves comes soon after Oregon has had to deal with a health concern for players being hospitalized following workouts led by strength coach Irele Oderinde. Oderinde was suspended by the school and the players have been released from the hospital, but it is pretty clear Taggart’s experience at Oregon is not getting off on the right foot with his new program.

In the long run, Taggart should be fine, but the pressure to show improvement with the program may actually ramp up even more now as a result of the offseason drama surrounding the program. For a school that just fired Mark Helfrich, who coached Oregon to the College Football Playoff national championship game just three years ago, the bar is clearly high for the program, and notable booster Phil Knight.

Taggart’s biggest concerns seem to mostly be out of his hands at Oregon, although it is fair to suggest he should have some influence on the strength program. You cannot blame Taggart for a coach getting busted for a DUI, because that fault ultimately falls on Reaves, but the pressure will be on Taggart to make the right hires that do not bring embarrassment to the Ducks program in the future.

[College Football Talk]

About Kevin McGuire

Contributor to Athlon Sports and The Comeback. Previously contributed to NBCSports.com. Host of the Locked On Nittany Lions Podcast. FWAA member and Philadelphia-area resident.