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UCLA hires DeShaun Foster, former star player, as head coach

Matt Connollyby:Matt Connolly•02/12/24•

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DeShaun Foster
(Photo by Jordon Kelly/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

UCLA has its next head football coach. DeShaun Foster has been hired to lead the program, the school announced on Monday.

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.

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“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.”

Foster rushed for 3,194 yards and had 44 touchdowns during his playing days at UCLA. He was named an All-American in 2001 after leading the Pac-10 in rushing. He went on to play seven seasons in the NFL, with six of those coming with the Carolina Panthers.

UCLA led the Pac-12 in rushing each of the past two seasons with Foster serving as the running backs coach.

“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.”