UCLA names former Bruins RB DeShaun Foster new coach

UCLA hired former star player and assistant coach DeShaun Foster as the school’s next head coach on Monday.

Foster agreed to a five-year contract, a source told ESPN.

Foster, who had accepted a job as Las Vegas Raiders‘ running backs coach earlier this month, is in the UCLA Hall of Fame as a player, served 10 years in various roles at the school and played seven seasons in the NFL. He emerged among a group of 11 candidates interviewed by UCLA, many of whom were head coaches.

Foster impressed UCLA’s higher-ups with his ability to lead and command a room. According to sources, school officials believe Foster can resonate with the Los Angeles market and emphasize recruiting and fundraising, part of the paradigm shift college football is undergoing in the era of name, image and deal deals. similarities.

“This is a dream come true,” Foster said in a statement. “I always imagined being a Bruin since I was young, and now being the head coach of my alma mater is such a surreal feeling, and I am grateful for this opportunity. The foundation of this program will be built on discipline, respect and enthusiasm “

Foster was also the overwhelming choice of current players, who believe in him as a connector and leader, sources said. Players “went crazy” upon hearing the news at a team meeting Monday morning, according to sources. Foster has worked with coaches Kliff Kingsbury, Jim Mora and Chip Kelly, and played in a Super Bowl with the carolina panthers under John Fox. UCLA views him as a modern executive coach who can identify and develop players.

“We are looking for a coach with integrity, energy and passion; someone who is a great teacher, who develops youth, who is a great recruiter and who fully embraces the NIL landscape to help our student-athletes,” said the athletic director Martin Jarmond in a statement. “DeShaun checks all those boxes and more. He is a leader of men and a true Bruin.”

Foster replaces Kelly, who left to become offensive coordinator at Ohio State last week. UCLA cast a wide net in its search, but the Bruins ultimately decided to go with a coach who has extensive local experience and has built a lot of credibility in the program and on campus.

Foster has been a standout assistant coach at UCLA, as their running back room has consistently produced NFL running backs: a Bruins running back has been chosen in the last four NFL drafts. That list includes Zach Charbonnet (2023), brittany brown (2022), Demetric Felton Jr.. (2021) and Joshua Kelley (2020).

Foster spent a decade in various roles on the UCLA staff, including running backs coach from 2017 until this year. She is also one of the school’s biggest stars.

As a running back for the Bruins, he ran for 44 touchdowns and 3,194 yards and earned second-team All-America honors in 2001.

His NFL playing career was spent with the Panthers (2002-07) and the San Francisco 49ers (2008). With the Panthers, he scored a touchdown in Super Bowl XXXVIII.