By : Sabri Haidar
(Photo/ Rodney Cofield - The Mojo Network)
The DeShaun Foster era at UCLA is officially over.
On Sunday, less than 48 hours after a season-opening blowout loss to Utah, the Bruins fired their head coach, cutting ties in just his second season in charge. The decision ends a rocky tenure that produced a 5-10 record and little sign of progress as UCLA transitions into the Big Ten.
Athletic director Martin Jarmond, who hand-picked Foster to replace Chip Kelly in 2024, thanked the former UCLA star in a statement.
“I want to extend my sincere thanks to DeShaun for his contributions to UCLA football over the course of many years — first as a student-athlete, then as an assistant coach and finally as head coach,” Jarmond said. “His legacy and love for this university are firmly established. He is a Bruin for life, and we wish him and his family the best.”
A Short-Lived Experiment
Foster was promoted at a difficult moment, stepping in after Kelly left for Ohio State in early 2024. Kelly went on to lead the Buckeyes to a national championship appearance before jumping back to the NFL as offensive coordinator of the Las Vegas Raiders.
Meanwhile, UCLA slid into irrelevance under Foster. The Bruins finished 5-10 across his brief tenure and looked completely overmatched in their 41-7 loss to Utah, raising questions about their ability to compete in the Big Ten.
Behind the scenes, the program has also struggled to keep pace with the rapidly shifting college football landscape, from NIL opportunities to the new House Settlement revenue-sharing model.
What’s Next?
The Bruins are expected to target candidates with proven résumés. Among the early names being floated: USC defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn, Oregon defensive coordinator Tosh Lupoi, Memphis head coach Ryan Silverfield, USF head coach Alex Golesh, Miami offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson, and Texas A&M offensive coordinator Collin Klein.
For now, UCLA must push through a daunting schedule. After a bye, the Bruins travel to Northwestern before a brutal stretch that includes Penn State, Michigan State, Ohio State, Washington, and rival USC.
With Foster out, UCLA enters another reset moment — this time needing to find a leader who can steady the program in its new Big Ten reality.