UCLA Hires DeShaun Foster As Chip Kelly's Successor
Just three days after the sudden departure of Chip Kelly, the UCLA Bruins have found their guy. The school has named program legend and longtime assistant DeShaun Foster as its new head coach.
Foster played running back for the Bruins and later worked as an assistant under both Jim L. Mora and Kelly. The Las Vegas Raiders hired him as their running backs coach just 10 days ago, but he'll forego that gig for the opportunity of a lifetime.
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"While undergoing a comprehensive search for our new head coach, DeShaun resonated from the start and throughout the whole process," UCLA athletic director Martin Jarmond said in a statement. "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."
It's a dream job, but a tough spot for DeShaun Foster.
Chip Kelly left the Bruins on Friday to become the offensive coordinator at Ohio State — a move that was both unprecedented and head scratching. And it couldn't have come at a worse time for the Bruins.
The last signing day was on Wednesday, and most programs are in the middle of off-season workouts. In terms of building a program, Foster will have his work cut out for him. The transfer portal window has closed, but Kelly's departure allows UCLA players a 30-day window to look around at different schools.
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Foster has likely signed up for a lengthy rebuilding process. But the 44-year-old doesn't seem to mind.
"This is a dream come true," Foster said. "I always envisioned being a Bruin ever since I was young, and now being the head coach at my alma mater is such a surreal feeling, and I'm grateful for this opportunity.
"The foundation of this program will be built on discipline, respect and enthusiasm. These are phenomenal young men, and I'm excited to hit the ground running."
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Foster was inducted into the UCLA Athletics Hall of Fame in 2022 following a solid career with the Bruins from 1998-2001. He finished his college campaign with 44 touchdowns and 3,129 rushing yards — both of which rank top-three in program history.
He played seven seasons in the NFL and began his coaching career in 2013 as a student assistant at UCLA under Mora. He was named UCLA's running backs coach in 2017 and held that title through the 2023 season.