Seattle ? Keith Gilbertson took over Washington’s football program in turbulent times, filling a void left when his boss, Rick Neuheisel, was fired for gambling on NCAA basketball.

Some would suggest it was an impossible situation.

Athletic director Todd Turner announced Monday that Gilbertson is stepping down at the end of the season, ending 15 difficult months as Neuheisel’s successor.

“The way I got this job, when I saw Rick’s situation, it was not a dream job,” said Gilbertson, a Washington native who spoke of his family’s four-generation links to the university. I do love this place. I have a great passion for Husky football. I do feel I made a contribution, but this was not a dream situation.”

The Huskies lost 31-6 at Oregon on Saturday, dropping to 1-7 overall and 0-5 in the Pac-10. It’s the worst season in 35 years for a school that shared the 1991 national title.

Gilbertson, 56, is 7-13 in two seasons. With recruiting in full swing, Gilbertson and Turner agreed after three weeks of talks that a commitment of some kind — extend Gilbertson’s contract or find a new coach — was needed.

“We will be back in the nation’s elite,” Turner said. “It will take a lot of sacrifice by a lot of people.”

Gilbertson will coach the final three games of the season, then undergo hip replacement surgery. He promised to help Turner in any way to get the program back to its 14 conference championships.

Turner will begin a national search immediately. He won’t pursue sitting coaches during the regular season.

Turner refused to discuss potential candidates. Some names that have been mentioned include Cal coach Jeff Tedford, New England Patriots offensive coordinator Charlie Weis, Utah’s Urban Meyer, Boise State’s Dan Hawkins and Missouri’s Gary Pinkel.