Report: UNLV, Dan Mullen hire Kentucky's Jeremy Bruce as assistant coach

The UNLV Rebels are set to hire Jeremy Bruce as their new outside linebackers’ coach, according to a Thursday evening report from Pete Thamel of ESPN. He’s worked as a graduate assistant at Kentucky and SMU the last two years. He also worked as a graduate assistant for the linebackers and defensive line for the Oregon State Beavers in 2021-2022.

He spent the 2023 season as a graduate assistant on the defensive line for SMU under Rhett Lashlee. Bruce played a key role in developing the best defense in the AAC in 2023, with the Mustangs leading the conference in third down conversion defense, defensive touchdowns, passing yards allowed, scoring defense, team passing efficiency defense, team sacks, and total defense.

He also coached a few of the top defensive linemen in the AAC in Elijah Chatman and Elijah Roberts. Chatman tallied 9.0 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks. Roberts was named to the AAC All-Conference second team after tallying 12.5 tackles for loss, 10 sacks, seven quarterback hurries, and two forced fumbles.

Bruce was a part of back-to-back bowl appearances for Oregon State. 2021 was the Beavers’ first bowl game since 2013. Oregon State won the 2022 Las Vegas Bowl with a win over the Florida Gators.

He also served as the defensive line grad assistant for Fresno State (2021) and the defensive line quality control coach for Wyoming in 2020.

Bruce’s coaching career began from 2018-2020, when he served as the outside linebacker/defensive line coach for Whittier College (Whittier, California). The Los Angeles, California native attended Beverly Hills High School, where he earned second team All-Ocean League honors his senior year. After high school, Bruce played for Golden West College, leading the Rustlers to a Central Championship Bowl (2011).

The UNLV Rebels are facing off against the Sam Houston Bearkats on Saturday, August 30th. They’ll begin a new era of hope with Dan Mullen at the reigns in Las Vegas.