UCLA Football Team Says Goodbye to Head Coach Foster after 0-3 Start
In the wake of a lackluster 0-3 commencement to the 2025 college football season, UCLA football publicly announced the dismissal of their head coach DeShaun Foster on the Sunday of Sept. 14. A disappointing show against New Mexico two days earlier, where the Bruins were decisively beaten 35-10, was the final straw prompting the dismissal.
In the three losses accrued by the Bruins so far this season, two were against Group of Five opponents. This performance clearly indicated the necessity of a new coaching regime, particularly as the Bruins are heading into a bye in the fourth week.
The UCLA management will have to pay Foster a hefty sum of $6 million as part of a buyout agreement, resulting from his lackluster record of 5-10 over two seasons. Special assistant Tim Skipper has been assigned the role of the interim coach to steer the team in the interim.
The search for their third coach since 2023 is actively in progress. The most pertinent question is — who could be the next prospective head coach that the Bruins and Athletic Director Martin Jarmond might consider as a viable replacement? Let’s explore some probable candidates UCLA might turn to.
Tony White holds the position of defensive coordinator at Florida State and is poised to generate quite a buzz in the coaching market in the ensuing offseason. With an impressive performance during his inaugural season with the Seminoles, White has already demonstrated his potential by leading the team towards an upset victory over Alabama. A noteworthy feat was restraining Kalen DeBoer’s offense at just 17 points.
David Shaw, the ex-head coach of Stanford, could be an appealing prospect for the Bruins. With a commendable career track record of 96-54 at Stanford, Shaw’s proven abilities could be an asset for UCLA.
Jason Eck, the current head coach for New Mexico, could emerge as a possible contender for the role at UCLA. With a promising start of 2-1 in his debut year leading the Lobos, after making a move from Idaho where he held a satisfying 26-13 record spread over three seasons, Eck’s success in recent past may earn him consideration.
Dan Mullen, currently leading the team at UNLV, is another potential candidate for the Bruins. Mullen commands a profound respect in the college football arena for his coaching skills, further substantiated by an undefeated start to the 2025 season with UNLV, making him a candidate worth considering.
A significant figure in the Big Ten Conference, P.J. Fleck, the Minnesota head coach, might attract the attention of the Bruins. His remarkable record with the Golden Gophers since 2017 is 60-40 over the course of nine seasons. Fleck’s proven coaching abilities might make him a strong contender for the UCLA job.
Another potential figure who could be on UCLA’s radar is Barry Odom, current coach at Purdue. Even though he’s only in his first year with the Boilermakers, his influence has led to doubling Purdue’s win total from the last season in just the first three games of the 2025 season.