Chip Kelly to Ohio State: Top candidates to coach UCLA next

Some coaching candidate lists are simple to create, such as Alabama’s. Nick Saban’s resignation was unexpected, but the potential replacements were clear.

Then there are situations like UCLA’s. The school is replacing Chip Kelly, who is likely to become the offensive coordinator at Ohio State. Kelly had been speculated to be an NFL coordinator for several weeks and was plainly looking to move on. Some people at UCLA felt the same way. However, the timing of Kelly’s departure is incredibly difficult.

UCLA simply doesn’t have many obvious options, especially right now, at the tail end of an active coaching cycle. Jedd Fisch, a Bruins assistant in 2017, took the Washington job. Jonathan Smith, a Southern California native, left Oregon State for Michigan State in late November. Brent Brennan, a former UCLA wide receiver who has coached up and down the West Coast, replaced Fisch at Arizona. Although a lot of coaches have ties to Los Angeles, there aren’t many currently in the region, either top assistants at other power conference schools or Group of 5 coaches, who would be obvious fits for the Bruins.

Athletic director Martin Jarmond could go with a temporary/interim/tryout situation for the 2024 season, UCLA’s first in the Big Ten. There are a few options within the program who might be able to keep the roster as united as possible.

The Bruins are likewise at a critical moment as they prepare to transfer conferences. Kelly finished 25-13 in his final three seasons, but had only one AP Top 25 finish and never won more than nine games, finishing 35-34 overall. UCLA has had notable transfer portal wins but lagged in high school recruitment, signing a class ranked No. 74 overall, between Memphis and Charlotte. The school has had a slow start to the NIL game. Kelly’s departure for an offensive coordinator position, let alone in UCLA’s new conference, does not reflect well on the program.

The Kelly hire, widely celebrated as he picked UCLA over Florida, didn’t hit big, continuing a long-term pattern of underachievement in Westwood. UCLA has not won a league title since 1998 and has just one AP top 10 finish since then.

UCLA still has a lot to offer, namely a beautiful location and access to the Southern California recruiting scene. The Big Ten move will bring some initial challenges but also more financial stability, a significant problem in recent years. Although there are obstacles, including playing home games off campus at the Rose Bowl and a fan base prone to apathy, UCLA remains appealing to many coaches.

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