UCLA decided it could pay Jim Mora $12 million to not coach anymore. Now comes the hard part: Hiring someone who can successfully coach the Bruins.
There is a feeling among college football pundits UCLA will hire a big-name coach. History tells us otherwise.
So let’s aim high and then look at some more realistic candidates for the UCLA job.
Chip Kelly: This is the dream hire and there is little doubt UCLA would love to hire him. However, let’s consider a few obstacles: Does Kelly want to move to Los Angeles? Does he want to move to Los Angeles and not be at the school that has the best chance of winning a national title?
Does Kelly want to deal with the bureaucracy that is unique to UC schools? Does he want to deal with the myriad compliance issues? Does he want to cater to boosters? These are legitimate issues because Kelly has a prickly personality.
And how much is UCLA willing to pay Kelly? More than Tennessee? More than Florida?
UCLA hiring Kelly would mean the Bruins would have no issues bringing in a coach with an NCAA “failure to monitor charge” for recruiting infractions at Oregon. Kelly received an 18-month show-cause penalty from the NCAA, which expired in 2014.
James Franklin, Penn State: Does Franklin want to leave a top 10 program and go to the No. 2 program in L.A.?
Kevin Sumlin, Texas A&M: Sumlin is on the hot seat with a 7-4 record. That is probably the only way he would come to Westwood. But can UCLA forget he blew a 34-point lead at the Rose Bowl in September?
Mike Norvell, Memphis: This seems like a plausible scenario for UCLA. Norvell’s got Memphis in the top 25 and UCLA would be a step up the coaching ladder. Norvell is also doing more with less, which definitely is a trait you want in a coach. He would also be less expensive than Kelly, Franklin or Sumlin.
Kyle Whittingham, Utah: Once you get past the big, fancy candidates, Whittingham might make the most sense. He lived in Glendora until the eighth grade, has been in the Pac-12 for eight years and keeps Utah competitive despite clear recruiting hurdles.
Whittingham also might be tired of being at Utah, where he was named head coach in 2005. If UCLA fans don’t want Whittingham, what other candidate went 13-0 and beat Alabama in 2008?
Rocky Long, San Diego State: Long was UCLA defensive coordinator from 1996-97. He is 31-8 the past three seasons and right down the freeway. But he is 67, which might be considered too old if UCLA thinks a major rebuilding job is necessary.
Scott Frost, Central Florida: Frost is one the hottest names in coaching but could be returning to his alma mater, Nebraska. He was a longtime assistant at Oregon so a return to the Pac-12 makes sense if Nebraska does not want him.
Tom Cable, Seattle Seahawks: The former UCLA offensive coordinator was the Raiders head coach from 2008-10 and is well-respected in coaching circles. UCLA won 10 games in 2005 and Cable’s offense averaged 431 yards per game.
Jedd Fisch, UCLA offensive coordinator: He is already the interim coach. Maybe if Chip Kelly says no and the Bruins beat Cal and win a bowl game, he gets a look. But will that make the fans happy?
Mike Riley, Nebraska: He won’t be considered an attractive candidate if he is fired soon but Riley was courted by UCLA before and is a Pac-12 institution after two stints at Oregon State. UCLA could do worse.