In a season already marred by defeats, UCLA's football program has parted ways with offensive coordinator Tino Sunseri, marking yet another blow to a beleaguered staff. The mutual agreement came just days after the team's 0-4 start, with the Bruins scraping by on a dismal 14.2 points per game—among the lowest in college football. Sunseri, who joined from Indiana last December with high expectations to revamp the offense, now becomes the latest casualty in a rapid unraveling.
This isn't isolated. Head coach DeShaun Foster was dismissed after three straight losses earlier this month, thrusting the program into interim limbo under Tim Skipper. Defensive coordinator Ikaika Malloe followed suit, exiting shortly after Foster's ouster. Indeed, the changes have piled up quickly, leaving the team scrambling just four games in. Skipper, stepping up from linebackers coach, called the shots on promoting tight ends coach Jerry Neuheisel to handle play-calling duties ahead of a tough matchup against Penn State.
Sunseri's tenure, though brief, promised much. Hired with a hefty contract topping $1 million annually, including bonuses, he brought experience from quarterback coaching stints at James Madison and Indiana. Yet the offense faltered badly, ranking near the bottom nationally in key metrics. Moreover, the departures echo broader instability; UCLA's search for a permanent head coach involves a high-powered committee of executives, but no timeline has emerged. However, with the Big Ten schedule looming, these midseason moves feel more desperate than strategic.
The Bruins' woes extend beyond the sideline. Newcomers like quarterback Nico Iamaleava, transferred from Tennessee, haven't sparked the turnaround many hoped for. Skipper has emphasized unity in pressers, but the results speak otherwise—a narrow 17-14 loss to Northwestern underscored the struggles. Three coordinators gone in weeks: it's a stark reminder of how swiftly fortunes can sour in college football.
As UCLA pushes forward under this patched-together leadership, one wonders if stability can return before the damage becomes irreparable.