Oregon Signee Cyrus Habibi-Likio Explains What UW is Getting in Matt Lubick
SEATTLE -- In almost exactly two months to the date Matt Lubick left Oregon to become an assistant at Ole Miss and Baylor, finally landing at Washington under Chris Petersen on Feb. 22.
The former Ducks assistant, who was promoted to offensive coordinator prior to the 2016 season, will now coach against a handful of recruits he helped Oregon sign as a part of its 2017 recruiting class.
One of those recruits is three-star running back Cyrus Habibi-Likio, who originally committed to Washington State before de-committing in mid-September and ultimately signing with Oregon in February. Lubick played an influential role in Habibi-Likio choosing the Ducks despite the assistant coaching elsewhere by the time he signed.
"That freaking blows," Habibi-Likio told Rivals, adding a light-hearted laugh, upon hearing the news of Lubick coaching at UW. "That's my guy right there. I wish he was still my coach. It's an honor to have the chance to play him."
Prior to speaking with Rivals on Sunday night the Oregon signee was unaware that Lubick had filled the wide receivers coaching void left by Bush Hamdan, who left to become the quarterbacks coach for the Atlanta Falcons.
Habibi-Likio received his offer from Oregon relatively late in the process, with former head coach Mark Helfrich making the call on Oct. 27. Two weeks later the St. Francis High School (Mountain View, California) running back was on campus in Eugene for his official visit.
While the highly-coveted RB evaluated his list of offers, opting to push back his commitment from December until after the recruiting dead period in January, UO officials reviewed Helfrich's job status.
After conflicting reports surfaced regarding Helfrich and his future as the Ducks head coach, Oregon athletic director confirmed that he had been fired effective Nov. 29. The night before his firing Habibi-Likio hosted Helfrich, along with Lubick, for an in-home visit.
"Just life. We all laughed and had an amazing time," Habibi-Likio said, recalling the visit with the two Oregon coaches. "He was very friendly to my grandma and he is a great guy. I loved the way he planned to use me [at Oregon]."
Habibi-Likio added he has spoken only once with Lubick since he left to become an assistant at Ole Miss, congratulating him on his then-new job in Oxford, Mississippi.
Washington hosts Oregon on Nov. 4 this upcoming season, one of four home games to close out the final five games in 2017. The Huskies ended their 12-year losing streak to the Ducks in 2016 with an emphatic 70-21 victory in Autzen Stadium.