Ex-Oregon Coach Chip Kelly Hired By UCLA

LOS ANGELES, CA -- UCLA now has its blue chip head coach. The school announced Saturday that it hired ex-Oregon coach Chip Kelly to lead the Bruins, signing him onto a five-year deal worth $23.3 million.

Kelly, who has nearly three decades of coaching experience in college and professional football, will also be offered a $9 million reciprocal buyout. He was the head coach for the University of Oregon from 2009 to 2012.

"I am thrilled to welcome Chip Kelly to Westwood," said director of athletics Dan Guerrero. "His success speaks for itself, but more than that, I firmly believe that his passion for the game and his innovative approach to coaching student-athletes make him the perfect fit for our program. 'Champions Made Here' is more than just a mantra at UCLA, and I'm confident that Chip will lead UCLA Football back to competing for championships."

Kelly will be formally introduced to the UCLA community and to media on campus Monday afternoon.

"It is an absolute honor to join the Bruin Family, and I am grateful to Chancellor Block and to Dan Guerrero for this incredible opportunity," Kelly said in a statement. "UCLA is a world-class institution with a distinguished history in athletics, and we will do our part to uphold its tradition of excellence."

Kelly most recently led the San Francisco 49ers 2016 after leading the Philadelphia Eagles from 2013 to 2015.
He began his head coaching career at the University of Oregon in 2009, leading the Ducks to a 10-3 record and a trip to the Rose Bowl in his first year at the helm. Kelly finished his time at Oregon with a 46-7 record as head coach, including victories in the Rose Bowl and Fiesta Bowl.

Kelly began his coaching career at Columbia University, also spending time at Johns Hopkins University and 13 years at his alma mater, the University of New Hampshire, before being named offensive coordinator at the University of Oregon in 2007.

"I am pleased to welcome Chip Kelly to UCLA, confident that he will work tirelessly to focus on the whole student, both as an athlete and as a scholar," said UCLA Chancellor Gene Block. "In my discussion with Coach Kelly, I sensed a sincere commitment to help our student-athletes become the best that they can be. I look forward to his presence in Westwood."

Last week, the school fired Mora after six seasons, saying his last two seasons didn't meet expectations.

--Chip Kelly, Jan. 1, 2017. (Marcio Jose Sanchez/Associated Press)