By Jordan Long
The UCLA Bruins lost to USC on Saturday, 28-23, dropping their record to 5-6. The loss hurt their bowl chances. In order for a possible bowl birth they must beat the University of California on Friday, the last game of the year. On Sunday, UCLA decided it was best to move on from Head Coach Jim Mora. According to ESPN, UCLA’s Athletic Director Dan Guerrero said, “Making a coaching change is never easy, but it’s an especially difficult decision when you know that a coach has given his all to our University.”. Jim helped reestablish our football program, and was instrumental in so many ways in moving the program forward.” Was this the right decision?
Jim Mora was hired by the Bruins prior to the 2012 season. Mora was unimpressive in the NFL in Atlanta and Seattle with a combined record of 31-33 in 4 seasons with 1 playoff appearance, which was in 2004. UCLA was hoping he was going to turn the program into a consistent bowl team and compete for a Pac-12 title. Mora was 9-5 in 2012. They were 10-3 the next two years. In 2015 UCLA was 8-5. They made a bowl game in those years and were 2-2 in those games.
If UCLA really didn’t want Mora, they should have fired him last season. UCLA was 4-8 and didn’t make a bowl game. They were hoping that year was a fluke, but through 11 games they are 5-6 this year. It was time to let him go. He never took the Bruins to a major bowl game or a Pac-12 championship.
Jeff Fisch is the Bruins offensive coordinator and will take over for the final game of the regular season against the University of California. A win will make them bowl eligible. If they play well, he might be in consideration to replace Mora.
UCLA will start the search for a new head coach after Friday’s game. UCLA may not be a top job like the University of Florida but they play in a major conference, the Pac-12. This will attract high profile assistant coaches and maybe Chip Kelly. Time will only tell, but hopefully the next head coach will turn this program into a national powerhouse.
What do you think of UCLA firing Jim Mora? Who should be the next Head Coach of UCLA?
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