UCLA Parts Ways with Coach DeShaun Foster Following Disappointing Winless Season Start

The DeShaun Foster era at UCLA has come to an end after just 15 games, including only five wins. His journey as head coach started with high hopes but quickly turned sour. Following an 0-3 start, Foster was let go, signaling that the Bruins are no longer content with being at the bottom of college football.

Tim Skipper, a former interim coach at Fresno State, will take over as the interim coach while UCLA searches for a permanent replacement. The Bruins have struggled significantly, losing their first three games by a combined score of 108-43. The team’s poor performance drew mockery from rival conferences and national media, leaving UCLA as the only winless team in the Big Ten.

Foster had a 5-10 record during his brief tenure and is owed approximately $6.43 million in buyout money from his five-year contract. He expressed gratitude for the chance to lead UCLA, despite the disappointing results.

With Foster’s departure, a 30-day transfer window opens, allowing players to seek opportunities elsewhere, potentially using a redshirt season, as the Bruins have not played four games. Already, UCLA seems to have lost a key recruit, Johnnie Jones, a four-star offensive tackle.

Foster’s hiring in February 2024 came as a surprise, given his lack of head coaching experience. He was a celebrated former player but faced criticism nearly from the start. In his introductory meeting, Foster promised he would outwork everyone, but reality proved to be different.

UCLA’s athletic director, Martin Jarmond, now faces a crucial task in finding a new head coach. His hiring strategy was unconventional, focusing on Foster’s passion and prior experience as a running back coach. Although Foster was popular among players, his inexperience showed. A nervous start in his first game set an uneasy tone, and the Bruins struggled from there.

Recent trends in college athletics, such as the trend of emphasizing experience, have underscored the importance of strategic hires. Foster’s approach to recruit and revamp the coaching staff showed promise but failed to translate into wins. The team’s inability to address basic issues like penalties and offensive execution has raised questions about the management and training strategies in place.

The road ahead for UCLA might be rocky, but it is clear that they seek strong leadership to rebuild the program. As they search for Foster’s successor, the eyes of college football will be watching closely to see how the Bruins recover from this setback.



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