UCLA football players celebrate hiring of DeShaun Foster in heartfelt moment

UCLA announced on Monday that it has hired former Bruins star DeShaun Foster as its head football coach. Needless to say, the UCLA football team is fired up about the decision.

The school has released a video showing the moment UCLA football players learned that Foster was the new head coach.

You can watch the reaction from the team below:

An unforgettable moment. ✨ @DeShaunFoster26 #GoBruins pic.twitter.com/i8opcBbGiE

— UCLA Football (@UCLAFootball) February 12, 2024

UCLA Director of Athletics Martin Jarmond is shown speaking to players during the video.

“We want somebody that wants to be a Bruin,” Jarmond says. “Well, we didn’t get somebody that wants to be a Bruin. We got a Bruin. Come on out, coach.”

The room erupted after Foster walked out, with players jumping up and down and running up to congratulate him.

It’s clear that players are fired up to have Foster as their new head coach. Earlier in the day, Foster shared how excited he was to get an opportunity to lead the UCLA program.

“This is a dream come true,” DeShaun Foster said in a statement. “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.”

More on UCLA hiring DeShaun Foster

Foster was a star player for the Bruins from 1998-2001, before beginning his NFL career. He is in the UCLA Athletics Hall of Fame.

DeShaun Foster has been on staff at UCLA as the school’s running backs coach since 2017. Foster replaces Chip Kelly, who left for the offensive coordinator job at Ohio State last week.

While Foster has been on staff at UCLA since 2017, he was recently named the running backs coach for the Las Vegas Raiders. He is now leaving that position to lead the Bruins program.

Foster coached at UCLA for two different stints. He has spent 10 years with the program as a coach in total and also served as the running backs coach at Texas Tech for one season.

In addition to the running backs coach, he was also the associate head coach for the Bruins in 2023.

“While undergoing a comprehensive search for our new head coach, DeShaun resonated from the start and throughout the whole process,” UCLA Director of Athletics Martin Jarmond said in a statement.

“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.”