By Jordan Long
UCLA has a new head coach for their football program. Chip Kelly, who had been their coach for the past 6 years, decided to go to Ohio State to be their offensive coordinator. UCLA hired DeShaun Foster.
UCLA hired Chip Kelly on November 25, 2017. UCLA was anticipating he would turn around the program. They had just let go of Jim Mora who held the position for 6 years. UCLA was 46-30 under Mora including two seasons where they won 10 games, 2013 and 2014. UCLA went to 4 Bowl Games under him with a 2-2 record. UCLA fired Mora after a 5-6 finish in 2017.
Kelly never won 10+ games in a season for UCLA. They were 35-34 under him, a winning percentage of .507. They played in 2 Bowl Games with him with a record of 1-1. This past season, Kelly coached UCLA to 8 wins. UCLA defeated Boise State 35-22 in the LA Bowl.
Kelly decided it was time to move on from UCLA. He joins Ryan Day’s staff at Ohio State that was looking for an offensive coordinator. They thought they hired Bill O’ Brian but he took the head coaching job at Boston College. Ohio State hired Kelly. Kelly knows it is a step back for him. Even so, Kelly recognizes Ohio State is one of the better programs in the country. They are in the running for the BIG 10 Championship and may have a chance to go to the College Football Playoff.
With Kelly gone, UCLA hired DeShaun Foster according to CBSsports.com, UCLA athletic director Martin Jarmond said, “While undergoing a comprehensive search for our new head coach, DeShaun resonated from the start and throughout the whole process. We are looking for a coach with integrity, energy, and passion; someone who is a great teacher, who develops young men, is a great recruiter and fully embraces the NIL landscape to help our student-athletes. DeShaun checks all of those boxes and then some. He is a leader of men and a true Bruin. I am excited to partner with him as we usher UCLA Football into an exciting new era.”
Foster has never been a head coach in the college game. He is a familiar name since he played for UCLA from 1998 to 2001 as their main running back. Foster rushed for 3,049 yards and 39 touchdowns before going on to play in the NFL.
Foster wants to turn this program back into a winner. The goal is to be in the College Football Playoff in the next few years, especially since it is expanding to 12 teams next year. It may not happen next season, but a bowl game is a step in the right direction. Foster will be given time to turn around the program.
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