WESTWOOD—DeShaun Foster’s brief era as UCLA’s head coach is over, as he was fired on Sunday morning after a humiliating and embarrassing 35-10 drubbing by the New Mexico Lobos at the Rose Bowl.
Being crushed by the “football juggernaut” Lobos was the final straw. Dropping to an abysmal 0-3, remember these first three games were supposed to serve as a tune-up before the difficult and grueling BIG 10 schedule arrives.
Foster, 45, was in his second year as the head coach at his alma mater. He played four seasons as a running back for UCLA from 1998-2001, then played six seasons in the NFL, all with the Carolina Panthers.
His record was 5-10 in his short tenure. Foster was in way over his head; UCLA is lacking the basic fundamentals in all three phases of the game. Furthermore, Quarterback Nico Iamaleava has been disappointing to say the least.
Transferring from Tennessee, his potential as a dual threat has not panned out for UCLA so far.
Athletic Director Martin Jarmond released the following statement:
“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 a head coach,” Jarmond’s statement reads… “His legacy and love for this university are firmly established. He is a Bruin for life, and we wish him, his wife, Charity, and their family the best.”
Foster will have success down the road. The man stepped into an almost impossible situation. Former Head Coach Chip Kelly up and quits UCLA for Ohio State abruptly. DeShaun Foster bravely stepped in, wanting to restore pride and honor for his alma mater.
Foster was hired after a process that lasted less than 72 hours. Being asked to lead and grow a program while being in the midst of joining the ferocious BIG 10 Conference.
Deshaun was doomed from the start.
Foster started his coaching career with UCLA as a volunteer assistant in 2013 and was ultimately promoted to director of player development and high school relations. He left in 2015 to become the running backs coach at Texas Tech under Kliff Kingsbury for a single season, then returned to UCLA in the same position under then-head coach Jim Mora.
The loss to the Lobos followed similar disappointments against UNLV and Utah in previous weeks. Suddenly, the Bruins are shockingly close to staring down the barrel of an 0-12 season.
In three games, UCLA hasn’t led at all and averaged 16.5 points per game, tied for 115th in FBS out of 133 teams, and the 36.5 points allowed per games is ranked 120th. Its offense is ranked 101st in the country and defense is 111th.
Special assistant Tim Skipper will serve as interim head coach for the remainder of the season, but the school’s release stated, “a comprehensive national search for a new head coach will begin immediately.”
UCLA will next take the field on the road against Northwestern on September 27. The Bruins return home on Saturday, October 4 to face the No.2 ranked Penn State Nittany Lions.
