One day after – not surprisingly – firing football coach Jim Mora on his 56th birthday over a 46-30 record, it can be said the UCLA athletic program has seen better days.
In just the past month:
- Three freshman basketball stars caused an international incident when they stole expensive items from three high-end stores in China,
- The struggling football Bruins lost 28-23 to arch-rival USC,
- And now this.
Timing of the firing was more of a surprise than the act itself.
The Bruins still have one game to play – Cal, Friday evening at 7:30 at the Rose Bowl. Offensive coordinator Jedd Fisch will coach that game.
Canning Mora at this point means the Bruins are looking immediately to sign a new coach.
Chip Kelly, former Oregon coach, is the favorite.
Sources say Kelly also is interested in Florida, which just ousted Coach Jim McElwain.
Meanwhile, it was reported Mora received a $12 million buyout.
Mora’s six-year record 46-30 had been considerably dimmed by two straight losing seasons, 4-8 last year and now 5-6.
Although Mora sent 25 Bruins to the NFL and his teams appeared in four bowl games his prickly personality clashed on campus.
From the beginning, Mora was harsh, even rude, to his own players and to his staff.
members at UCLA.
- He argued with his own coaches on the sidelines during games.
- He was impolite to media members during press conferences and one-on-one interviews.
Many who follow UCLA football wondered how a program could have so many NFL players and still be an average program.
He had quarterback Brett Hundley, who now plays for the Green Bay Packers, his first few years.
Current quarterback Josh Rosen has been in Westwood for three years.
He is the best quarterback in college football this year.
Yet the Bruins never have won a big game or gone to a major bowl under Mora.
How many college programs can say they have had an NFL-level quarterback six straight years?
Something was missing.
Whether Mora was having trouble communicating with his coaches or personnel issues away from the program, his style and personality fit UCLA.
Mora released a statement thanking UCLA and saying that the program’s future is bright.