Report: UCLA parting ways with offensive line coach Tim Drevno, hiring Juan Castillo

The UCLA Bruins are moving in a different direction, making an interesting change to their offensive coaching staff.

According to Bruce Feldman of The Athletic, the Bruins are parting ways with offensive line coach Tim Drevno, and are expected to hire veteran NFL assistant Juan Castillo, who has familiarity with freshly-minted offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy.

“SOURCE: UCLA is parting ways with OL coach Tim Drevno,” Feldman posted on X, formerly known as Twitter. “The Bruins are expected to hire veteran NFL assistant Juan Castillo who worked with new OC Eric Bieniemy previously. Drevno still has two years left on his deal with UCLA.”

Along with the addition of Bieniemy, the move gives the Bruins a wealth of NFL experience teaching their squad, which certainly always helps when molding players for the next level.

We’ll see how it contributes to the success of UCLA in 2024, as the Bruins move on from the Chip Kelly era.

More on the UCLA Bruins, hiring of Eric Bieniemy as OC

Moreover, UCLA hired Eric Bieniemy as its next associate head coach and offensive coordinator, ESPN’s Adam Schefter and Pete Thamel originally reported earlier this offseason. He just wrapped up his first season with the Washington Commanders and will now work under new Bruins coach Deshaun Foster.

Bieniemy previously worked at UCLA as running backs coach from 2003-05. He then headed to the NFL with the Minnesota Vikings from 2006-10 before returning to the college ranks at his alma mater, Colorado, as offensive coordinator from 2011-12.

Andy Reid came calling in 2013, though, bringing Bieniemy to Kansas City as the Chiefs’ running backs coach and eventually promoted him to offensive coordinator in 2017. That gave him a chance to work hands-on with Patrick Mahomes and helped the Chiefs to two Super Bowl titles during his time with the franchise.

After Bieniemy’s lone season with Washington, the franchise – now under new ownership – opted to overhaul the coaching staff. That left him looking for what was next, and he told Schefter the opportunity to go back to UCLA stood out to him.

“Southern California,” Bieniemy said in an email. “I attended high school there. I started my career in the league here (with the Chargers). It’s obviously great to be back with the Bruins, where I was previously employed.”

Alas, it’s going to be fascinating to see the veteran NFL offensive coordinator back in the college game, and how he adjusts to the changes we’ve seen over the last couple of seasons.