USA Today reporter James H. Williams talks about UCLA parting ways with head football coach DeShaun Foster.
The latest:
DeShaun Foster’s time as UCLA’s football coach is done after three games into his second season.
Foster’s contract will be honored by UCLA Athletics, exclusively using department-generated funds, according to the university's press release.
“I want to extend my sincere appreciation to DeShaun for his contributions to UCLA Football over the course of many years, first as a Hall of Fame student-athlete, then as an assistant coach and finally as head coach,” Athletic Director Martin Jarmond said in the initial press release. “He was named to this role at a challenging time of year, on the cusp of a move to a new conference, and he embraced it, putting his heart into moving the program forward. His legacy and love for this university are firmly established."
Tim Skipper will serve as the interim coach and will have time to settle in with the team, which will not play again until it travels to play Northwestern on Sept. 27. The Bruins started the season losing games to Utah, UNLV and New Mexico.
Foster was asked on Friday night if he thought he was the right fit for the job during the postgame press conference.
"Most definitely," Foster said on Friday. “Because I can get these boys to play.”
Foster was hired in February 2024, following the departure of Chip Kelly, to take over as the 19th head coach in UCLA football history. But his February hire date gave him a late start to the offseason. The Bruins finished 5-7 overall and 3-6 in the program's first season in the Big Ten Conference.
“While this chapter ends differently than I had envisioned, UCLA Football has a bright future ahead," Foster said in a statement. "This program, with its rich tradition, will return to prominence.”
The players will have 30 days to enter the transfer portal. Some will have the chance to redshirt.
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