Chow to UCLA

by Menelaus on Jan 20, 2008 8:34 PM PST in Football Comment 65 comments

From Dohn:

UCLA coach Rick Neuheisel hit the daily double when it comes to coveted coordinators after Norm Chow accepted the offensive coordinators role Sunday, according to sources.

Chow, the former Tennessee Titans and USC offensive coordinator, gives Neuheisel a formidable staff along with defensive coordinator DeWayne Walker.

Neuheisel, Chow and Walker each interviewed for the head coaching job. A UCLA official declined to comment.

Chow was a long-time offensive coordinator at BYU, but made his mark nationally as the offensive coordinator at USC, tutoring Heisman Trophy-winning quarterbacks Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart.

He spent the past three seasons as the offensive coordinator of the NFL's Tennessee Titans, but was fired last week. Neuheisel was waiting for Chow to decide whether Chow would return to college football, attempt to secure another NFL job or take a year off from coaching.

GO BRUINS.

UPDATE -- Meriones: The LA Times is running it in today's (Monday's) paper:

Norm Chow, the offensive mind who helped USC win two national titles, has agreed to join UCLA's staff as offensive coordinator, sources familiar with the situation said.

Rick Neuheisel coveted Chow from the moment he was hired as Bruins coach in late December, but the chances of landing the 61-year-old coach were minuscule. That changed when Chow was fired by the Tennessee Titans on Jan. 14.

After taking a few days to discuss the situation with his family, Chow agreed to sign on across town from where he developed two Heisman Trophy-winning quarterbacks for USC. Chow spent four seasons with the Trojans. But after friction developed between him and Trojans Coach Pete Carroll, Chow left to become the Titans' offensive coordinator in 2005.

UCLA officials declined to comment. Neuheisel and Chow did not respond to telephone calls for comment.

I'm still hoping for that official announcement from campus, but holy (bleep). WOW. -- M

0 recs | Comment 65 comments

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Un-fuc*ing-believable!

I don't know what to say. We're going to kick some major ass.

by OutOThsWrld on Jan 20, 2008 8:42 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

wow

great way to end my birthday

by deluxe207 on Jan 20, 2008 8:46 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

WOW

Great way to start mine!

by 10amla on Jan 20, 2008 11:16 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Happy Birthday

to you both

by Ryan Rosenblatt on Jan 20, 2008 11:18 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

And So It Continues!

We're back!

Thank you, Skippy! Thank you DG for the hire! Thank you DW for staying. Welcome Coach Chow!

We are freaking back!!!

Is it August 30th yet?

by ucla84 on Jan 20, 2008 8:46 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

better get some players, too, though

I think Norm and DeWayne are getting a little old to throw the ball and block.

by smayhew on Jan 20, 2008 8:50 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

SMAYHEW

I THINK "SMAYHEW" IS A S.C. SUPPORTER WHO HAS SNEAKED ONTO THIS UCLA BLOG AND IS SHOWING HIS FEAR AND LACK OF COMPETITIVENESS BY MAKING SUCH A STUPID REMARK.

by geewhiz52 on Jan 20, 2008 11:39 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Why?

because he's right? I'm loving what RN is doing right now, but before I believe we're going to be competing for conference and national titles on a consistent basis, we're going to have to do something on the field. This staff is a great start to the RN era, but the real progress is made on the field so until we get top quality players, our coaches won't have the talent to take us where we want to go.

by Ryan Rosenblatt on Jan 20, 2008 11:45 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Yes, but you're failing to make a basic connection

that good coaches attract good players and can DO something with them once they are here!

The fact is that Dorrell had good players who were underutilized and poorly coached.

I think we do have a dream team of sorts when it comes to RN, DW, and NC at the helm.

by PeterUCLA on Jan 21, 2008 1:59 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

RN

has been a good recruiter, but not great. His results went down once he had his own players in place at both Colorado and Washington. DW has proven to be a good recruiter, but Chow has never been an overly good recruiter. Fact is that while we should be excited for the direction of the program, we are merely pointed in the right direction right now and have yet to get into the meat of this journey.

RN has pulled all the right strings so far, but what has he proven on the field thus far? Nothing and we shouldn't assume we're going to get where we want until we start seeing something on the field.

I'm not trying to bring people down, merely keep things in perspective. Even the best coaches can't get out on the field and play. The origin of all this was a comment someone made that our coaches can't play so they have to go out and get players. geewhiz shot down that poster, calling him a Trojan and saying it was a stupid remark. It is far from that because they do still have to go out and get players and then develop those players.

Excitement is fine, but lets try and put things in perspective. There's a long way to go and we can't just assume we're going to be great. Our Ben Ball Warriors assumed we would win Saturday and how'd that work out for them? You have to go out and get the job done and our football program has barely even gotten going on the job.

This all started with the quote "better get some players too, though." Damn straight we better and that's the next step. Let's not dismiss it and assume things are going to turn out perfectly.

by Ryan Rosenblatt on Jan 21, 2008 2:17 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks for stating the obvious about needing to

prove ourselves on the field. But Chow's playcalling has mad 3 and 4-star recruits play like 5-star prospects.

by PeterUCLA on Jan 21, 2008 2:05 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

YES YES YES

by bruinmike88 on Jan 20, 2008 8:58 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Outstanding News

Congrats to Neuheisel for his second coup in a month, and welcome to Westwood, Coach Chow.

Exciting stuff, kids. Awesome.

by Sweetbreads Bailey on Jan 20, 2008 9:03 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Haven't seen this reported anywhere else yet...

...but I'm not too much of a wet blanket to hope it's true. Yeahhh!

by bruinchick on Jan 20, 2008 9:09 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Hmm, what are the words I'm looking for...

oh, here they are...

** YEAH BABY!

by Tydides on Jan 20, 2008 9:09 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Oops...

... nevermind. Duh.

http://www.dailynews.com/sports/ci_8029450

by bruinchick on Jan 20, 2008 9:10 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

YES!

Great Job Rick!!

by BruinFanBaby on Jan 20, 2008 9:12 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

FFFFING AWESOME!!!

I was hoping that CRN could announce it at halftime of the SuC game. How perfect would that have been? CRN takes center court. Then, he announces our new OC Mr. Norm Chow! And then Norm Chow comes out wearing a Gold and Blue sweater!
Oh well, this news just rocked my world!

by bruin8uclap on Jan 20, 2008 9:14 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

WOW

Obviously, we did not want Norm Chow as head coach for obvious reasons. But I am glad to welcome him into the Bruin family right now. He's an amazing OC and all of our QBs (especially BO, who deserves a good teacher) will learn a great deal under him. Really, CRN could not have done a better job with this. Brilliant hire. I couldn't be happier.

I wonder what The Humanitarian is thinking right now?

by njbruin on Jan 20, 2008 9:16 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Best staff in the conference now

maybe the country. This is great! Matt Barkley was at the game yesterday with RN and so it looks like were back in it for him and with the Chow news, I think we have a fighting shot.

by Ryan Rosenblatt on Jan 20, 2008 9:16 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

THANK YOU

Thanks for the scoop on Matt Barkley.

by ishXdavid on Jan 20, 2008 10:22 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Saw this scroll across on ESPN

YEEEEEEAHHHHHHHH!

by freesia39 on Jan 20, 2008 9:23 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

I'm speechless

Just a month ago I was wondering if UCLA would ever get it right. The complacent and historically underachieving program that we were. WOW...UNBELIEVEABLE.... This is some star are aligned stuff. Special Thank You to the Titans for getting the financial hurdle out of the way. Wonder how Pete feels about now? I was in a rut after the loss to SC but this is a HUGE lifting of my spirits. WOW!

by BlueReign on Jan 20, 2008 9:23 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

WOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!

HELL FREAKING YES!!!

by Allofmybros on Jan 20, 2008 9:27 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

man oh man...

This is what a real coaching staff looks like-proven commodity at the top, one of the best ever at OC, a good, dynamic and improving DC (yes, sjh, I still think Walker is a very good DC and we can agree to disagree.) After five years of Dorrell and his ever-changing staff of retreads, ne-er do wells and who dats, this is simply incredible. We may not show much this year when the season is over, but I am sure that this team will be coached well and when we lose, it won't be because we lacked the guidance from the sidelines...great hire for the Bruins.

by ucladj89 on Jan 20, 2008 9:29 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

DW Is Our DC And I Support Him

As I've said all along, if RN wants him, I want him.

My posts in the last week were clearly aimed at DW's supporters -- the one's who were Chicken Little's screaming that the sky would fall (we'd lose our recruiting class) if we did not hire DW and that only a person of color could recruit players of color.

We may disagree on how good a DC DW is, but I'm sure we agree that we want him to succeed.

sjh

by Class of 66 on Jan 21, 2008 10:17 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I knew they weren't directed at me

which is why I refrained from jumping in on some of your posts. We've hashed out our positions on Walker and I didn't think a reiteration of my position would advance the discourse.

And I agree entirely with the sentiment of your last sentence.

out from frigid Chicago...

by ucladj89 on Jan 21, 2008 12:28 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

wow

This really saved my weekend of my teams losing...

Wow, we really assembled an all-star staff. Its hard to imagine a month ago, we were worried that we might have an HC as Chow and Walker. Now, we have a real head coach and real coordinators.

by blinkshot on Jan 20, 2008 9:32 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Amazing!

This is huge. CRN continues to amaze with how quickly he is turning around the program, making it relevant again and creating excitement for the upcoming season.

by makenji on Jan 20, 2008 9:37 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

What a great announcement!

This just turns around what has been a bit of a disappointing weekend for our Ben Ball Warriors. NORM CHOW!!!! The best offensive mind in college football AND a huge slap in the fact to Cheatey Petey to have Chow lined up against in Bruin Blue and Gold!

GO BRUINS!

by rgalloucla on Jan 20, 2008 9:37 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Something to be Excited About!

I am not a big football fan at all, though I support the Bruins unconditionally in every sport, but the news of Chow's hiring has even got me excited! Wow! What a coup. The staff Coach Neuheisel has assembled is really something to be stoked about for next season. I may have to look into buying season tickets!

by bruininthelbc on Jan 20, 2008 9:40 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

OH HELL YES!

WOOOOO!!!!!!!

by sumo331 on Jan 20, 2008 9:49 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

I'm pretty happy...

but I'm also with those who need to see a few games to see if this is going to work. Too many cooks in the kitchen? We'll see. If CRN can parlay his people skills into managing a staff of this magnitude, then we could be VERY successful. If mismanaged, we could lose both in a year and RN's reputation could come off damaged.
As goes the adage "with great power comes great responsibility" this situation has the potential to be AMAZING for UCLA football, but it also has the potential to blow up in our faces.
I, for one, trust RN. It's one thing to get Walker to come back, it's another to get someone of Chow's pedigree to come here.

by MrGray on Jan 20, 2008 9:54 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

I think it will work out fine.

Walker is likely to toe the party line, since he is gunning for a HC job somewhere, and insubordination is generally frowned upon on a resume. Chow will be interesting, though. Who knows how he views being an assistant in a program whose HC vacancy he'd targeted, even if he did withdraw from consideration (which looks like it really WAS of his own accord). That's going to be the real question.

All waffling recruits will stand up and take notice for sure. Hopefully the Star Trek Trio will stick together long enough to see this thing through.

by palafox on Jan 21, 2008 12:06 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Sure makes my weekend

Was about to go to bed when I got a text message about the hiring. Will make getting up for my first day of classes much more palatable in the morning.

And to think, we could have had another year of Dorrell/Norvell!

by bruinhoo on Jan 20, 2008 9:55 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

A quick reminder of Chow's track record

I already linked to this on my blog, but I found an old ESPN.com article about Chow, written in 2001, before any of his success at USC.

In 18 seasons as offensive coordinator, Chow coached six of the top 12 career passing efficiency leaders and 11 quarterbacks who rank among the top 30 in NCAA history for single-season passing yardage. The Cougars scored 30 or more points in 106 of 181 games. His list of pupils include Robbie Bosco, Steve Young and 1990 Heisman Trophy winner Ty Detmer.

Chow coached Philip Rivers, who broke seven school passing records and was named ACC Freshman of the Year last season.

And again, that's not including his success with Carson Palmer or Matt Leinart. That UCLA can get a guy with this track record as offensive coordinator is amazing.

by gilbert on Jan 20, 2008 10:04 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

On the ESPN.com homepage

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=3206201

by bruinhoo on Jan 20, 2008 10:04 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

we ll be young

next year. so i do not expect the team to be that successful. but at least there is hope. and even if we lose, there will be progress and a good game to watch.

by 8994 on Jan 20, 2008 10:07 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Yippee

Yippee, yippee yippee yippee yippee! Oh yeah, Yippee! 2008 will be good, 2009 will be better, 2010 will be great.

by popopapa on Jan 20, 2008 10:09 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

SUC fans are going to HATE this!!!

CRN as HC, DW as DC, and NC as OC. What recruit isn't going to want to come to UCLA. Pac-10 and the rest of the nation better worry! IT IS ON!!!

by Bailey on Jan 20, 2008 10:18 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Wow!

Great news!

by sfatoo on Jan 20, 2008 10:23 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

But remember

Rick had a strong showing in his first year at UW. That program was 4th in the conference the previous year. 4th! Sound familiar? If he could do it there? Why not here?

by OutOThsWrld on Jan 20, 2008 10:28 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

fantastic!!!!

especially as a student.

Can't wait for football season and the awesome trickery on offense to come....not to mention the constant ability to move the ball!!!!

watch out $C

GO BRUINS!!! CHEER LIKE CHAMPIONS!!!

by bk bruin on Jan 20, 2008 10:31 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

THIS is what UCLA football should be

Proven, successful coaches with track records.

We did not deserved 5 year of an idiot who didn't know where to stand on the sidelines, who didn't know he had a first-rate running back on the team...and on and on...

I'll leave it to RN to speak of KD with reverence, but for me I have nothing but disdain for that charlatan of a coach who even dared say that he wasn't paid enough.

by bluegold on Jan 20, 2008 10:58 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

I don't know if I should be shot for this but...

I'm more excited for football season than basketball season...help?

by sumo331 on Jan 20, 2008 11:03 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Congratulations

to all Bruin fans around the nation. We are finally committed to our football program. I am expecting the Rose Bowl to sell out from this point on. We have to support our triple threat coaching staff. I am so excited about the direction of this team. Good job to the nation and DG for not settling for mediocrity. We're back and we'll be fighting for a spot to play in our home on January 1st from this point on.

by bruin78 on Jan 20, 2008 11:28 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

UCLA OC

My prayers have been answered. THANK YOU>

GO BRUINS.

by DanielWayne on Jan 20, 2008 11:40 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Star Trek

I'm waiting for the Kirk, Spock, and McCoy pictures.

Great job CRN and DG!

by bhbruin on Jan 20, 2008 11:48 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

damnit

I'm a Trojan. This is the most depressing thing ever. Forget the Holocaust. Forget poverty. Forget Britney losing custody. Nothing could be worse than this.

Congrats Skippy. Nice coup.

And to you bRuin fans... Congrats on your first national championship in football since the 1940s... it's only a matter of time now.

Damn.... Pete, why on earth did you run Norm out. SHIT!

by bjsocal on Jan 20, 2008 11:48 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Gawrsh - Thanks!

You're a little over half a century late on the congrats, but then you've been watching us win so many other crowns, you probably got confused.

At least you're keeping things in perspective...

by ucla84 on Jan 21, 2008 5:13 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

AT LONG LAST....

"OUR LONG NATIONAL NIGHTMARE HAS FINALLY ENDED." LET'S JUST ROLL UP OUR SLEEVES AND GO TO WORK!! AND LET'S TOTALLY IGNORE THE NAME-CALLING AND NEGATIVITY WE'LL BE HEARING FROM "CROSS-TOWN." THOSE DIATRIBES AND HATE-MONGERING SLURS WILL MERELY REFLECT THE FEAR THAT THEY HAVE OF FALLING FROM THEIR PRECARIOUS PERCH. AND PRECARIOUS IT IS, ESPECIALLY IF THEIR COACH BOLTS FOR THE NFL...AGAIN! LET'S SEE HOW THEY MEASURE UP AND BEHAVE WHEN THEY FACE SOME REAL COMPETITION FROM UCLA THIS COMING SEASON!!!
GO BRUINS!!!

by geewhiz52 on Jan 21, 2008 12:19 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Well

I'll be shocked if we're competing with SC on the national scale or conference standings this season. I love our coaching staff and what RN is doing, but as great as coaches are, they don't block, tackle, pass or run. It'll be a few years before were consistently where we want to be because RN needs to get his players in the program. We'll be competitive from the beginning, but winning the conference...not with next year's roster.

P.S.- The caps are unnecessary.

by Ryan Rosenblatt on Jan 21, 2008 12:24 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Okay, no caps. (They just reflected enthusiasm!)

Y'know, I don't think your dismal forecast for next year is the way to instill excitement and competitiveness into what promises to become a great program. It's amazing how sometimes team spirit and honest-to-goodness excitement coupled with a real desire to win can actually override whatever deficiences that may be present. We do have some great players on the team already, as you know, and some outstanding recruits. And with the coaching staff we now have, why not shoot for the moon?

by geewhiz52 on Jan 21, 2008 12:47 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I'm not trying to instill excitement

I'm giving my thoughts on what I expect next season. When I'm at the games and when I watch games I expect a shoot for a win no matter the opponent or quality of the Bruins, but during times like these I try and look at the situation as objectively as possible.

Our offensive line was atrocious last season and we don't have any significant talent coming in. Our QB situation is more promising with Chow, but it's possible Olson just doesn't have it and while I love Cowan's guts, he is physically limited. Our recievers are average and our running back situation is dim with our only proven back coming off a serious knee injury.

On defense, we're going to have to get a pass rush that was mediocre last season and will lose it's best player. Our linebackers will be a strength and could be one of the conference's best if they can improve in coverage. Our secondary will be young with 3 new starters.

Considering all the new players stepping in, our coaching is what will get us that 6th and 7th win. A mediocre coaching staff gets this type of talent 4 or 5 wins considering the difficulty of our schedule.

We will still be feeling the effects of Dorrell next season. With so many starters leaving any team would have trouble, but Dorrell had so little in-house competition, the players stepping in this season have not developed and gotten experience like they should have. Our future is bright, but we have to remember that no matter the coach, he needs players and we just won't have the talent to compete for a conference title or win 9+ games this season.

Try looking at the situation with your brain and not your heart. There's no way an objective observer can expect great things in the '08 season. The only greatness in '08 for our football program will be the great foundation laid for future seasons and that is something to be excited for.

by Ryan Rosenblatt on Jan 21, 2008 12:59 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Who is saying we will win 9 games next year?

I think most people here are reasonable enough to know that it is a process. Ben Howland went 11-17 his first year and only 18-11 his second. Remember that? Still IIRC people here gave him the breathing room he needed and did not call for his firing halfway through the first year or even after that lame 1st round loss to Texas Tech his second.

by njbruin on Jan 21, 2008 6:31 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Given the loss of SO MANY starters...

... if we were to win 9 next year, I think I'll be dancing a freaking jig.

Remember, Dohn himself wrote that part of the reason why KD was let go was that the admins thought this team would be hard-pressed to win 6 or 7 games next year.

I think 8 may be possible, but understand that a 6-7 win-season may still be more realistic. This is the next step in a process, and while not a full program rebuild, it is a full philosophy and attitude adjustment.

I want to give RN and the rest of the staff the room they need.

"In this program your passion bucket must be full to play SC." -- CRN, to Dan Patrick, 1/2008

by Meriones on Jan 21, 2008 6:43 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

This is way early

But I will be very happy if we win 7-8 games next season. And that I think will be tough.

Remember even with Chow, Pom Pom, and Carson Palmer they only won 6 games their first year IIRC.

by Nestor on Jan 21, 2008 6:48 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I suppose only time will tell.

There is some skepticism on my part, but for the most part, I've had a really good feeling about this before it all played out. If you don't believe me, read my post

Anyhow, I think we'll do very well. Not NC, but I think we'll have a shot at the Rose Bowl. Let's hope I'm right again.

by OutOThsWrld on Jan 21, 2008 12:37 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

I agree.

You've been redeemed.

by geewhiz52 on Jan 21, 2008 12:55 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

WOW

I can't believe it, but Ill take it. Neuheisel really is kicking trOJie ass. I wonder if he will have the same success with Olson that he had with Carson Palmer. Finally we have an offensive mind that can design a system that plays to a quarterbacks strengths, instead of shoehorning him into a west coast offense that no college program seems to be able to make work.

GO BRUINS!!!!

by joeb on Jan 21, 2008 1:07 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Unbelievable!!

I'm trying to process this one. It looked like such a long shot. wow, things are really shaping up. Nice looking staff with some great talent coming in. I had some big concerns about who would run the offense under RN. Great news!!

Go Bruins!!!!!!!!

by Bruins095 on Jan 21, 2008 2:15 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

great news!!!

we are finally making football into an excellent program, as is the ucla way... things are always top down in an organization, and even though this year's team will be young, the coaches will make a difference, and then, even better players will come!

this is fantastic... and combined with my giants making it into the super bowl, the weekend turned out to be ok, after the ugly basketball loss to those hated trojans...

go bruins!

by nycbruin on Jan 21, 2008 4:56 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Ok, we'll call it even...

After the nearly unbearable pain of watching that basketball "game" on Saturday, this, in retrospect, may make this weekend worth it in the long run.

Time will tell, but the future is looking bright. GO BRUINS!

greg in denver

by gbruin on Jan 21, 2008 5:22 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Anticipation

Funny, I'd been holding off on getting a big plasma for a couple of years, because football hadn't been that much fun to watch. I finally broke down and ordered a nice one last week. Now I can't wait for the Tourney and for next fall!

by Calchas on Jan 21, 2008 11:41 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Stormin' Norman

Congrats to the SlickMeister for putting together a Hall of Fame staff that only he had the huevos to put together. Stormin'Norman wants to prove he can put it together where ever he goes--and he will at UCLA. Ben Olson will finally get the coaching he deserves but is it too late with only one year left? Danny Guerrero deserves alot of credit for having the vision and courage to hire Ricky and then giving him the space to make his hires. Start breaking ground for a new building on campus for Danny G. He's starting to act like J.D. Morgan. And we are now in the discussion for the National Championship, year after year.

by bruin75 on Jan 21, 2008 11:02 PM PST reply actions 0 recs