UCLA Football Staff and Recruiting Update
by AHMB on Jan 18, 2012 9:02 AM PST
in Football
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PrintJanuary has been a good month to the Bruin football program, and it looks like it's going to get better. Late Monday night, 5* DT Ellis McCarthy committed to UCLA. A few hours later, Jim Mora officially announced that Lou Spanos was hired as DC. Topping off yesterday's wild ride, 3/4* QB Kevin Millweard committed to the program. Yes, yesterday was a good day.
At this point, our coaching staff consists of the following:
Offensive Coordinator: Noel Mazzone
Offensive Line: Adrian Klemm
Running Backs: Steve Broussard
Tight Ends: Marques Tuiasosopo
Wide Receivers: Eric Yarber
Defensive Coordinator: Lou Spanos
Defensive Line: Angus McClure
Defensive Backs: Demetrice Martin
Special Teams/LB: Jeff Ulbrich
Strength & Conditioning: Sal Alosi
More on our staff and recruiting news after the jump.
There has been a lot of exuberance over most of Coach Mora's hires, yet there are some valid concerns. We all know that Klemm, Broussard, McClure, and Martin can recruit with anyone, but the college is not just about getting the best players in the program. Player development and scheming is just as important as recruiting, and at this point we simply do not know if the assistant coaches are as good at coaching as they are at recruiting.
Nowhere as pronounced as it is on the DL, where Coach McClure was recently assigned despite never having coached on the defensive side of the ball. We previously discussed the fact that Coach Mora may be looking for a DC with DL coaching experience or that Coach McClure may transition to On-Campus Recruiting Coordinator after the recruiting period, allowing Coach Mora to bring in a dedicated DL Coach. Since Coach Spanos' background is with LB'ers, I wouldn't rule out an announcement of another move before spring ball.
On the recruiting front, things are really beginning to heat up. Our class has jumped to #10 following the commitments of McCarthy and Millweard. Of course, that ranking is buttressed by the fact that we now have 27 commitments, which puts us tied for third most in the country. This isn't something that fans should worry about at this point, as these things find a way to sort themselves out. There is usually a fairly substantial exodus of players when a new coach arrives, which we have not seen yet. Additionally, some recruits may enroll early, greyshirt, or fail to qualify academically, so it's simply premature to worry about the number of recruits we are taking on at this point.
In addition to the coaching staff, none other than 4* CB Ishmael Adams is recruiting for UCLA. After Tosh Lupoi bailed on Cal, the door has been cracked for UCLA to make headway on some of the recruits formerly commited to Cal. Remember, Ellis McCarthy was previously commited to Cal, and Adams is doing his part to lure 5* WR Bryce Treggs, 4* DT Aziz Shittu, and 4* WR Jordan Payton. The drama is almost unbearable.
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Nice!
My bloody Mary taste especially good this morning! Go Bruins!
"Success is never final, Failure is never fatal. It's Courage that counts" - John Wooden.
A Spicy Bloody Mary
I hope! Things are certainly looking good so far. Still, I’m keeping my exuberance under emotional lockdown until the LOI’s are signed and we know what our coaches really have to work with. Connubial visits and moderate celebratory drinking excepted, of course.
As always, great update
I will remain hopeful for a continuance of great recruits. As mentioned, this is only part of the formula. I’m not much for the stars grading that recruits get, but I do want our coaches to develop our recruits into top athletes. I also share the concern with our D.
by Trueblue'09 on Jan 18, 2012 9:18 AM PST via mobile reply actions
That's because they have an inferiority complex. ;-)
We, on the other hand, can afford to be magnanimous.
by Seth Chandler on Jan 18, 2012 12:47 PM PST up reply actions
If they had done this to any other school
i.e., if Tosh had left another school to go to Cal and tried to bring recruits with him, they would be gloating and flaunting Cal’s “arrival”, how they’re a force to be reckoned with, etc., etc. It’s just the nature of today’s college football world. I wouldn’t wish it on anyone, and don’t be fooled, it could happen to us down the road with Klemm or any of the other guys.
But hey, what do I know. I’m just the 800 lbs bruin in the room.
I'm going to be the cynical buzzkill here.
I’m definitely pleased that we’re pulling in a strong recruiting class, especially considering the lack of recent on-filed production. But that’s precisely the issue for me.
6-8 hurts too damn much. An irrelevant program which slipped into being a national joke the last 15 years straight hurts too damn much.
Recruiting is lovely and is a nice problem to have. But it won’t mean a thing to me if we go 6-6 again next season.
Everyone knows last year’s record. Everyone knows the current state of the program. Nothing done between now and next season will change that. However, what Coach Mora is doing right now is impressive.
We’ve mentioned here numerous times that the offseason doesn’t mean a thing without results next year and beyond. We’re all on board with your sentiment, but there really is no reason to lament last year at this point. We’re moving forward.
Formerly AllHailMightyBruins
Fair enough
I’m just a loud-mouthed upset recent alum who knows that all the loyal students who attended ucla this past decade, myself included, (not to mention all of the alumni) deserved much, much better than what we got.
And you’re right, the recruiting success by Mora, despite the poor on-field production, is impressive. It’s much better than the alternative of not being able to recruit anyone to the most incredible university in the country. I just can’t wait for the day when things actually turn around and I can be proud of our football program again. Just as the Bruins have mirrored the lack of success by my beloved 49ers this past decade, I’m hoping they can experience a similar sudden turnaround under a new regime.
I think there's really no point in being a buzzkill.
I sympathize and have my worries, too. But a hopeful state is so much more pleasant to be in than a despairing one and none of us will really know anything until we start playing the games. So we might as well pick ourselves up off the ground and cheer.
And, frankly, things do look brighter, to me, anyway, than they did when Mora was hired.
by Seth Chandler on Jan 18, 2012 12:52 PM PST up reply actions
You haven't said anything
that hasn’t already been said. Coaches have to recruit ballers who have the physical talent, desire, determination and the never-say-die attitude to excel. Sound recruiting is a huge part of the success equation and it appears this staff has done a stellar job. Coaching these players up is the next step, but we won’t see initial results of their coaching for many months. However, I just don’t see Coach Mora putting up with any of the player nonsense and disrespect that plagued prior, weaker coaches. He has already set the tone by booting two players off the squad and telling the team that this jumping the wall nonsense will be a quick ticket to the streets. Coach Mora has made it crystal clear that representing UCLA is an honor and a privilege, not an entitlement. That demands accountability; a bedrock life skill for success.
Use the reply button please
I almost took your whole post out of context because I thought you were responding to the original post and not a comment.
The wall?
Is it really over? Every time we think its dead, it crawls back out of the grave. Let’s see if Mora takes full control next year.
Mora was quite publically displeased with the "tradition"
I can’t imagine that he’d ever allow it without serious consequences.
If you can find the video of his response when he heard about...
the wall thingy, you’d hear in his voice that anyone who even remotely thinks about skipping a practice will wish to hell they didn’t.
I mean, he sounded as if someone was going to pee on his living room carpet.
Defense--New DC
As I have stated in the past, this was an extremely important hire. IMO a solid defense is as, if not more important, than the offense. All youir top college teams have good to great defenses. Still have a slight concern for the DL, but with Mora’s experience as a DC and with this hire, that hopefully will be addressed.
Like how our recruiting has gone to this point, with the potential to get a few more good players, but again, the coaching staff has to teach/develop these players to their expected potential. The proof will be in the pudding!!
Just anxious to get the ball rolling
We’ve heard and felt all the hoopla about recruiting successes before, and we find ourselves waiting and hoping for the new season again. With several position coaches without experience, it only exacerbates the wait. I just hope this cycle changes and we produce a successful season where we can predict with confidence the next winning season. For this upcoming one, just hope.
DL concerns...
although completely valid, I think it’s a minor point at the moment.
Take a step back and see what Mora has done for UCLA in a short time. You can clearly see by looking at his hires that CJM understands his own weaknesses and has addressed them. To me, the three most important highlights are 1) hiring a proven and well-respected OC in Mazzone, 2) getting a Football only S&C for UCLA (and a good one in Alosi to boot!), and 3) getting hot-shot recruiters.
Rome is not built in a day, so to have one concern left over seems fine to me. Perhaps it was a savvy move to help with continuity. We just don’t know. On the other hand, I not technically informed to comment on how important DL is as a whole.
It feels great to be a Bruin again!
by UCLA_beer&mathematics on Jan 18, 2012 10:53 AM PST reply actions
+1 about the DL coaching concern being overblown
If UCLA switches to a 3-4 defense, which it looks like it will. Having a DC and LB Coach with decades of experience coaching (or playing as) NFL LB’s in a 3-4 defense, I’m sure they learned more than enough about how to coach a DL in that system.
by BillytheSid on Jan 18, 2012 11:42 AM PST up reply actions
I thought the NCAA eliminated full-time recruiting coordinators
If McClure gets reassigned after signing day, does this mean that he’s out of the football program altogether? I don’t think he can go from coaching the DL to full-time recruiting coordinator, because I thought the NCAA rules stipulated that the recruiting coordinator must be an actual coach as well. All of the coaching staff slots are now taken, so this doesn’t leave room for another DL coach.
IIRC, the rule was implemented in the early-90s and that forced UCLA to part ways with long-time recruiting guru Bill Rees (currently working as a scout for the Chicago Bears, and father of ND QB Tommy Rees), since he did not do any coaching. In the late-70s, USC was locking up the top SoCal talent, so UCLA decided to go beyond the local recruiting base and under Rees, UCLA became one of the first programs to work from a truly national recruiting map. Those highly rated classes that Rees helped target and bring to Westwood paved the way for UCLA’s successful run during the 1980s. Some years, close to half of UCLA’s recruiting classes came from out of state.
After Rees left and his duties got transferred over to one of the position coaches, UCLA’s recruiting dropped off considerably. A lot of people like to blame Terry Donahue for the recruiting decline in the latter part of his tenure, but I think a lot of this had to do with no longer having a full-time recruiting coordinator at his disposal.
Loopholes
11.7.2 Football Bowl Subdivision – There shall be a limit of one head coach, nine assistant coaches and two graduate assistant coaches who may be employed by an institution in bowl subdivision football.
11.7.2.1 Exceptions to Number Limits FBS – No individual other than coaches designated to fill the coaching categories set forth in Bylaw 11.7.2 may participate in any manner in the coaching of the intercollegiate team of a member institution during any football game, practice or other organized activity, with the following exceptions:
11.7.2.1.1 Weight or Strength Coach FBS – A weight (strength and conditioning) coach may conduct flexibility, warm-up and physical conditioning activities prior to any game and prior to or during any practice or other organized activities without being included in the limitations on number of coaches.
My take is that you can only have a HC + 9 Asst Coaches + 2 Grad Assistants coaching, but there is no limit as to potential administrative positions such as “On-Campus Recruiting Coordinator”.
Here is an article about loopholes to the coaching rules. Granted, McClure wouldn’t be able to go outside of campus to recruit, but it would be worthwhile to have someone who knows what they are doing coordinate recruiting efforts IMO.
Formerly AllHailMightyBruins
Hopefully, the kids that we have can be coahed up...
and Mora & Staff can pull off a turnaround next season like Hoke, mattison, and Borges did at Michigan. .
I am very confident that if McClure is not teaching the dL accordingly, Mora and Spanos have more than enough experience to shore up what McClure may or may not know. Even Klemm has plenty to offer for the dL as well, since he learned how to battle in NFL trenches; he had to learn what techniques would be used against him. Everything from the past 13 years has been hit and miss. One year it’s the d one year it the o, we have recievers no qb, we have DBS no pass rush. Good rbs no o line. The main problem the past 13 years is that our team has not meshed and have not played just solid football. Hopefully, Mora and his staff changes all that. Good Luck Coach, staff, players, and fans! Go Bruins
by Darthruv9 on Jan 18, 2012 2:34 PM PST via mobile reply actions
this may be a dumb question...
but McLure isn’t the only of our position coaches without specific experience. Technically, we should have the same concerns for Tui coaching tight ends, right? I’m just wondering why we’re so focused and concerned about that particular position coach? Because D Line is so important? Does that imply tight ends coach is not? Not trying to stir the pot, genuinely curious.
by DoubleTroubleBruin on Jan 18, 2012 3:08 PM PST reply actions
It is a good point
For me Tui’s inexpereince is mitigated by Mazzone’s presence. Mazzone at least on paper is as good as x and o coordinator we will find anywhere else. Given that he will be the mastermind behind the offense I think he will be a good mentor for Tui.
As for DL this has been one of the most problematic unit for UCLA D for years spanning multiple coaching regimes. We were hoping to have someone on the staff who’d speialize in. Perhaps going to a 3-4 will address this concern a bit as Spano and Ullbrich will help out. But I am anxious given McClure has no experience whatsover coaching on the defensive side of the ball. At least Tui’s has some experience being part of the offensive staff. McClure doesn’t even have that wrt defense.
by Nestor on Jan 18, 2012 3:31 PM PST via mobile up reply actions
Right
Plus Mazzone doesn’t really use TE’s, and TE’s generally split a lot of time with the WR’s and OL.
I’ve mentioned this before, but I suspect Tui’s real role is to learn Mazzone’s offense and is likely being groomed for future OC.
Formerly AllHailMightyBruins
Call it a gut feeling
May be I will turn out to be totally wrong on this. I am excited about Tui’s potential as a young coach.
by Nestor on Jan 18, 2012 3:35 PM PST via mobile up reply actions
he definitely has fire in him
When Prince threw the interception in the Wazzu game and Rosario didn’t bother fighting for the ball, Tui ripped into Rosario during halftime and had to be physically separated.
I feel like Rosario did a lot better in the second half, though I can’t remember enough to say for certain
by Objection Penguin on Jan 18, 2012 3:55 PM PST up reply actions
but
if Mazzone makes us feel better about Tui…Shouldn’t Mora make us feel better about McClure?
Look, I’m probably just playing devil’s advocate here. I too wish we had uber experienced assistant coaches at each position. I was mostly just wondering if our paranoia (mine included) about McClure’s lack of experience may be overstated.
by DoubleTroubleBruin on Jan 18, 2012 5:23 PM PST up reply actions
You're right
But, the devil in the room is McClure just feels like old regime. Unlike Tui, McClure just feels different because he doesn’t seem to have the upside Tui has. I have nothing to base this on, but my gut. I don’t trust him as a coach.
I guess that's our hope at this point...
That the more experienced coaches will mentor/tutor Tui and McClure in specifics for any particular concept or scheme. But, I gotta say, I’m still scratching my head a bit.
but
we have had issues on the dline for going on 7 years. weve had a few coaches who came with actual backgrounds coaching that position, who still couldnt solve those problems. bringing in a coach with ZERO experience on that side of the ball just doesnt drum up confidence. but to answer your specific question…
tui has at least studied and played on offense. the tight end is a single position on the field, as opposed to 4 or possibly 3 for the dline. we are coming back next year with one hell of a tight end. where we have young talent on the defensive line that truly needs to develop. and lastly i know it doesnt mean much, and no offense to mcclure, but tui has a solid reputation in college football and great family lineage in athletics to uphold.
I might feel better about this
if our Special Teams had looked anything other than shoddy this year. Other than Locke kicking the ball a long way, I’m not sure there was much good about the unit McLure was ‘coaching up’ last year.
by VeniceBruin on Jan 18, 2012 10:09 PM PST up reply actions
By the way, has anyone heard about how recruiting is going for Leach and RichRod?
Has any big name recruits committed to either program? Are they losing any recruits or players?
Seems like Mora is winning this battle.
Recruiting for Leach is irrelevant
That’s not how he makes his living. He already has some good QBs to work with, so he’s pretty well set.
I haven’t heard anything about RichRod either. But he did get his old DC back from WVU, so he will get things rolling soon…give him a mobile QB and a shifty running back and he’s off to the races.
But hey, what do I know. I’m just the 800 lbs bruin in the room.
OK, a purse out of a sow's ear...
If nothing else, it will be a fun year for football. This could be the most interesting year in some time. How much hay will the commish make of these new, and existing, coaches.
Can’t wait.
As a former NFL QB
Tui brings a lot to the table. He was a tough, gritty QB as well as smart. He had to know what every player’s assignment was for every play on offense. He knew the receiver’s routes and every move they had to make to get open. He also got to watch the best pro position coaches teach their NFL charges. He brings knowledge, passion and fire along with the desire to excel. This is a good spot for him and he will push the TEs to their potential. I liked him as a Raider and I am glad coach Mora is giving him a chance.
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