With UCLA still searching for a permanent replacement following the sudden dismissal of DeShawn Foster on September 14, several names have surfaced for the Bruins’ next head coach.
UCLA fired Foster after an 0–3 start to the college football season, in which the Bruins were outscored 108–43, prompting the athletic department to fire the second-year coach and hire an interim while launching a national search.
Martin Jarmond, UCLA athletic director, said, “We will identify, recruit and invest in a leader who has the vision, confidence, vision and proven ability to return UCLA football to national prominence, and we will provide the resources to compete and win at the highest level.” This is our commitment to our alumni, fans and supporters.”
Surprisingly, On3 insider Pete Nacos now lists Arizona’s Brent Brennan as a realistic option to fill that role, considering his California ties and recent on-field speed.
Brennan is a native of Redwood City, California, has trained extensively in the state, and has established a recruiting pipeline in Northern and Southern California that is a direct asset to UCLA’s talent pool.
He is also a proven program builder, turning a struggling San Jose State program into a regular conference contender, winning the Mountain West title in 2020 after finishing 7-1.
He also won the 2020 Mountain West Coach of the Year and led the Spartans to multiple bowl trips.
Arizona’s 2025 turnaround (8-3) and improved advanced metrics provide recent, transferable proof points that Brennan can coach at a power-level program.
In recent weeks, several other names have been linked to the UCLA opening, such as Florida State defensive coordinator Tony White, former Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy and others.
So, it is certainly a surprise to see Brennan’s name coming up as a legitimate option.
However, choosing a coach with local roots and demonstrated program turnaround like Brennan would be a step toward stability built from regional recruiting and incremental development.
Selecting a high-profile outside name would indicate a different, more immediate ‘win now’ posture.
Any outcome immediately reshapes UCLA’s recruiting, style, and standing in the Big Ten.
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