UCLA named Bruins Hall of Famer DeShaun Foster its next head coach, it announced on Monday.
Foster will succeed Chip Kelly, who was hired to be Ohio State’s offensive coordinator on Friday night.
Foster, a 2022 Broyles Award nominee, has over a decade of college coaching experience.
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“This is a dream come true,” Foster stated in a release. “I always envisioned being a Bruin ever since I was young, and now being the head coach at my alma mater is such a surreal feeling, and I’m grateful for this opportunity. The foundation of this program will be built on discipline, respect and enthusiasm. These are phenomenal young men, and I’m excited to hit the ground running.”
Foster played four seasons at UCLA from 1998-2001 earning All-American honors in 2001 after leading the then-Pac-10 Conference with 138.6 rushing yards per game. He finished his Bruins career second with 44 touchdowns score and third with 3,194 rushing yards.
Foster started his coaching career as a student assistant at UCLA from 2012-13 before becoming a graduate assistant in 2014.
He spent one more year at UCLA as Director of Player Development and High School Relations in 2015, then became running backs coach at Texas Tech.
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After the 2016 season with the Red Raiders, Foster returned to UCLA as running backs coach serving in the role from 2017-22. He earned a promotion to associate head coach prior to the 2023 season.
Foster was inducted into the UCLA Athletic Hal of Fame in 2022.
”While undergoing a comprehensive search for our new head coach, DeShaun resonated from the start and throughout the whole process,” UCLA athletics director Martin Jarmond stated in a release. “We are looking for a coach with integrity, energy and passion; someone who is a great teacher, who develops young men, is a great recruiter and fully embraces the NIL landscape to help our student-athletes. DeShaun checks all of those boxes and then some. He is a leader of men and a true Bruin. I am excited to partner with him as we usher UCLA Football into an exciting new era.”
