By: Mike Huesmann
Chip Kelly has left for Ohio State and the offensive coordinator role. We knew this was on the table as both Chip and the school had been inching towards a change. Chip has won 17 games over the past two years at a school that has been the little brother in LA for decades and hasn’t had a coach as consistent as him in years.
If you’re going to be so unappreciative to a guy who’s done as well as Chip, you either are delusional about how good your situation is for a coach, or you genuinely have a better candidate picked out. For UCLA’s sake, let’s hope it is the latter. This is not an easy place to win, but in many ways, it should be. Here are five options for the Bruins.
Tony White
Nebraska, Defensive Coordinator
After stints at San Diego St. and Arizona St., White led one of the best defensive backfields in the country in 2022 for Syracuse before bolting for Lincoln with Matt Rhule. Matt Rhule made a great hire to get the UCLA alumni on his staff at Nebraska for this season. White has a history in many parts of the country, is young and energetic, and has everything recruits want to see.
He also did a heck of a job as DC at Syracuse. I wouldn’t be shocked if he goes back to Westwood as head coach. The Nebraska fans won’t want to lose him, but that program isn’t what it once was, and the itch to lead his own program might be too great.
The case for Tony White from UCLA writer: pic.twitter.com/R2zHMQmoXS
— Jim in MN (@HuskersMN) February 9, 2024
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P.J. Fleck
Minnesota, Head Coach
Could we be rowing the boat in Los Angeles? I’d put Fleck on the list. He led Western Michigan to a 13-1 season in his final year at Western Michigan. Since coming to Minnesota, he has brought stability, culture, and a consistent run game to a team that needed all three.
His Minnesota team is down on talent and lousy this year, but he won Floyd of Rosedale and took them to a bowl game. This was one of his best coaching jobs.
Jay Norvell
Colorado State, Head Coach
Norvell is a former Bruin assistant coach here, so he knows the landscape. He was QB/OC coach under Karl Dorrell. Norvell has had multiple stops as an assistant coach at Blue Blood programs and in the NFL. He spent five years in Reno as head coach of Nevada and just finished year two at Colorado State. The Rams finished 5-7. He is highly thought of in the college ranks, and that reputation could lead to him being a candidate here.
Saturday challenge today, during our 8 weeks of Grit off season training. “There is always someone out there working to beat you, rain or shine.” We are that guy. #RamGrit🐏👕 pic.twitter.com/IbS6411PdW
— Jay Norvell (@CoachJayNorvell) February 3, 2024
Barry Odom
Head Coach, UNLV
Odom is leading a resurgence in Las Vegas, a place where few have been able to win games. The Rebels played for the MWC title and made a bowl game. He had an average stint at Missouri, which was surrounded by much turmoil that was not his doing.
The job he is doing this year will dispel all notions about his ability, though. Odom spent time before UNLV at Arkansas as the DC. His Rebel team this year played stout defense and was deadly in the run game, using all kinds of guys to carry the ball. He could be a solid hire.
If you’re UCLA and can pick from these 4 coaches:
PJ Fleck
Sean Lewis
Barry Odom
David ShawWhat’s your pick?
— HALL of GOATS (@GOATS_hall) February 9, 2024
Bryan Harsin
Former Head Coach, Boise State and Auburn
Harsin was always a bad fit for the SEC, and the Auburn boosters tried to run him out of town almost immediately. He was doomed to fail, partly because of himself and partly because of the culture. He was a resounding success in his previous seven seasons at Boise, going 69-19 with a bowl game every year except the COVID-19 shortened 2020 season.
His success there has been quickly forgotten in the wake of Auburn. It shouldn’t be. He’ll coach again somewhere in the Pacific or Mountain time zone and probably do a good job. I don’t know if this is the one for him, but he checks a lot of boxes. Sometimes, the best ability is availability.
