A History of Coaching Changes in UCLA Football
The UCLA Bruins football program, representing the University of California, Los Angeles, boasts a storied history marked by periods of great success and, inevitably, coaching changes. As a member of the Big Ten Conference at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) level, the program has seen its share of highs and lows, often tied to the leadership on the sidelines. This article explores the history of UCLA football coaches, examining the reasons for their departures and the legacies they left behind.
Early Years and Establishing a Foundation
UCLA's football journey began in 1919, with Fred Cozens leading the inaugural team to a 2-6 record. The team's early schedule consisted primarily of local high schools and assorted teams, as UCLA did not join an athletic conference until 1920. Cozens transitioned into the role of athletics director from 1919 to 1942. Harry Trotter succeeded Cozens, guiding the Bruins through their early years in the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC). Trotter's tenure, however, was short-lived, as he departed with a 2-13-1 record after three seasons (1920-1922). James J. William H. Spaulding took over the program in 1925, arriving from Minnesota to guide the Bruins.
The Spaulding and Horrell Era
Following Spaulding's retirement, Edwin C. Horrell was promoted to head coach. Horrell achieved a significant milestone by leading UCLA to its first victory over rival USC. His 1942 team reached the Rose Bowl, where they faced Georgia.
The Red Sanders Golden Age
The 1950s marked a golden era for UCLA football, under the guidance of head coach Red Sanders. He led the Bruins to a Coaches' Poll national championship in 1954, along with three conference championships. Sanders' overall record of 66-19-1 in nine years solidified his place as a legendary figure in UCLA football history. His impact extended beyond wins and losses, as he intensified the Bruins' rivalry with USC, instilling a "Beat SC!" mentality within the program. The 1954 Bruins achieved a perfect 9-0 record, but due to the Pacific Coast Conference's (PCC) "no repeat" rule, they were unable to compete in the Rose Bowl. Instead, second-place USC, whom the Bruins had decisively defeated, played in the Rose Bowl.
Transition After Sanders
The sudden death of Red Sanders led to a period of instability. Assistant coach George W. Dickerson briefly took over on an interim basis but suffered a nervous breakdown. William F. Barnes was hired as the full-time head coach, leading the Bruins for seven seasons. Barnes achieved a 31-34-3 record, with two seven-win seasons in 1960 and 1961, earning a trip to the 1962 Rose Bowl. He resigned after the 1964 season after learning that athletics director J.D. Morgan had been looking at other coaches.
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The Tommy Prothro Years
Tommy Prothro's arrival from Oregon State in 1965 brought renewed excitement to the UCLA program. In his first season, the Bruins recorded a dramatic pay-back upset victory over the No. 1 ranked Michigan State Spartans in the 1966 Rose Bowl, 14-12. Prothro helped a second quarterback capture the Heisman Trophy when Gary Beban was awarded the trophy after the regular season in 1967. Despite a loss to USC in one of the "Games of the Century", Prothro's tenure was marked by success and near misses. 1969 was the year Prothro had geared his recruiting efforts towards as he believed this was his best team and was capable of contending for the national championship. In what turned out to be his final season at UCLA, Prothro's team suffered a rash of key injuries and finished 6-5, yet they were three close games from a 9-2 season and Rose Bowl berth. The season ended on a high note however, when UCLA beat rival USC, 45-20, in a game that was not that close. This would end up being Prothro's final game at UCLA.
The Rodgers and Vermeil Era
Pepper Rodgers came to UCLA from Kansas after the departure of Prothro. In Rodgers' three seasons at the helm of the Bruins, UCLA finished 2-7-1, 8-3 and 9-2. As head coach at UCLA, Dick Vermeil compiled a 15-5-3 record in two seasons (1974-1975), including a 9-2-1 record in 1975 when he led the Bruins to their first conference championship in 10 years, and a win in the Rose Bowl over undefeated and No. 1 ranked Ohio State.
The Terry Donahue Era
In the 1980s and 1990s, during the tenure of Terry Donahue, the Bruins compiled a 151-74-8 record, including 13 bowl games and an NCAA record eight straight bowl wins. The 1997 team finished as co-champions of the Pacific-10 Conference with Washington State. The 1998 season started out as one of the best in the history of UCLA football.
The Recent Coaching Carousel
Since Donahue's departure, UCLA has experienced a period of coaching instability. More recent coaches include Bob Toledo, who led the team to a co-championship of the Pacific-10 Conference in 1997. Karl Dorrell's tenure saw moments of promise, including a 10-2 season in 2005. In 2005, his third season as head football coach, Dorrell was able get his first win against a ranked opponent, No. 21 Oklahoma, featuring Adrian Peterson. Dorrell achieved his first win against a top-ten opponent with a 47-40 upset win over No. 10-ranked rival California. Three Bruin wins in the 2005 season set new school records for biggest comebacks earning the nickname "The Cardiac Kids." They came thanks largely to the heroics of quarterback Drew Olson and tailback Maurice Jones-Drew. The Bruins were ranked No. 7 in the nation until a 52-14 blowout loss to a 3-8 Arizona team. The Bruins came into the UCLA-USC rivalry last regular season game ranked No. 11. They suffered a 66-19 defeat to the No. 1 2005 USC Trojans football team. This was the largest margin of defeat since the series began in 1929 with a 76-0 defeat. The Bruins finished third in the Pac-10 standings. On December 30, 2005, his Bruins defeated the Northwestern Wildcats in the Sun Bowl, 50-38, finishing the season with a 10-2 record. At the end of the 2005 season, Dorrell received pay bonuses for coaching successful seasons. In 2006, Dorrell's fourth season, the Bruins finished the season 7-6 (5-4 in conference) and finished fourth-place in the Pac-10.
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tags: #ucla #football #coach #firing #history
