DeShaun Foster is out at UCLA, here's who could take over the Bruins

Less than 2 years aft promoting decorated alum DeShaun Foster to caput coach, UCLA is backmost successful the marketplace for a programme leader.

Foster, a UCLA adjunct and standout moving backmost successful Westwood and successful the NFL, was elevated precise precocious successful the 2023-24 coaching carousel. A coagulated decorativeness to past play and an offseason highlighted by the transportation summation of backmost Nico Iamaleava generated newfound excitement astir the program. But then, the games began, and it was disfigured close away.

After an 0-3 commencement successful which UCLA was outscored 108-43, the schoolhouse fired Foster connected Sept. 14, 2 days aft the Bruins were blown retired by New Mexico astatine a mostly bare Rose Bowl.

UCLA severely needs a jolt arsenic it tries to found itself successful the Big Ten. Athletic manager Martin Jarmond, who hired Foster and has faced criticism, volition pb the search, but determination are questions however overmuch power helium volition truly have. -- Adam Rittenberg

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Five candidates

UCLA has baked-in fiscal challenges, particularly arsenic a Big Ten member, but tin inactive connection an appealing determination for recruits and transfers. The programme needs a wide absorption and could payment from an experienced caput manager oregon a proven assistant.

Florida State antiaircraft coordinator Tony White: A UCLA alum, White's sanction has gained steam successful coaching searches, and helium spoke with UCLA earlier the squad hired Foster. He has since moved from Nebraska to Florida State, which opened the play with a monolithic triumph against Alabama and could situation for the ACC title. White, 46, comes from the Rocky Long coaching histrion and worked successful Southern California arsenic a San Diego State adjunct from 2009 to 2017. He would beryllium a first-time caput coach, which could crook disconnected UCLA, but has the credentials to pb his ain program.

BYU manager Kalani Sitake: He's reasonably established astatine his alma mater and would request immoderate assurances -- beyond the Big Ten rank -- to permission a bully concern successful Provo. But Sitake besides is successful his 10th twelvemonth astatine BYU and mightiness privation to restart his clock. The 49-year-old has spent astir of his vocation astatine Utah but besides worked astatine Oregon State and knows the West Coast and California recruiting scene. Sitake is 74-43 arsenic an FBS manager and would bring an individuality of physicality and toughness to Westwood.

Cleveland Browns violative coordinator Tommy Rees: He was calved successful Los Angeles and has ties to the UCLA programme done his father, Bill, a Bruins adjunct from 1979 to 1994 nether Terry Donahue. Tommy Rees has rapidly risen up the coaching ranks, earning violative coordinator titles astatine Notre Dame, wherever helium played quarterback, arsenic good arsenic Alabama and present the NFL's Browns. Just 33, Rees was a beardown campaigner for North Carolina's head-coaching vacancy this past offseason and apt volition beryllium starring his ain squad successful the adjacent future.

Boise State manager Spencer Danielson: The 36-year-old grew up successful Southern California and played assemblage shot astatine San Diego and Azusa Pacific earlier entering coaching. He has been astatine Boise State since 2017, became caput manager precocious successful the 2023 play and led the Broncos to their archetypal CFP quality past year. Danielson, 36, is precise connected to Boise State and has an easier playoff way determination than astatine UCLA. But the schoolhouse should surely gauge his involvement successful returning to his location authorities and coaching successful the Big Ten.

Oregon antiaircraft coordinator Tosh Lupoi: If UCLA wants to marque a large unit splash, similar Syracuse did with Fran Brown, it could look astatine Lupoi, 1 of the much notable recruiters connected the West Coast. The 44-year-old began his vocation astatine Cal, his alma mater, and past Washington earlier an extended tally with Nick Saban astatine Alabama and past successful the NFL with 3 times. He has returned to the assemblage crippled astatine Oregon nether Dan Lanning and past twelvemonth helped the Ducks to a Big Ten t...