UCLA football coach Chip Kelly signed an additional two-year contract extension, which was announced by athletic director Martin Jarmond on Friday.
The extension, which will keep Kelly at the helm through 2027, adds two more years to a four-year deal he received ahead of the 2022 season.
The contract serves as a vote of confidence in Kelly to lead the Bruins beyond the transition to the Big Ten Conference, which begins in 2024 after the upcoming season.
Last season was the first time since 2014 the Bruins, ranked No. 21, landed in the final AP Top 25 and AFCA Coaches polls. UCLA finished 9-4 and played in their first bowl game under Kelly – a 37-35 loss to Pittsburgh in the Sun Bowl.
“I am excited about our football program under the leadership of Coach Kelly and his talented staff,” said UCLA athletic director Martin Jarmond in a press release. “The football program is on an upward trajectory, both on the field and in the classroom.”
The Bruins averaged a Pac-12-best 237.2 rushing yards per game in 2022, which ranked sixth in the country. In total offense, the Bruins were fourth in the country with a team-record 503.6 yards per game.
Kelly finalized his coaching staff earlier this week and announced the hiring of D’Anton Lynn, his third defensive coordinator in three years. Kelly continues to work without an official offensive coordinator on staff.
Running backs coach DeShaun Foster was also promoted to associate head coach. Foster remains the only coach remaining from Chip Kelly’s initial UCLA staff when he was hired in 2017.
The Bruins had a running back drafted in each of the last three years. Zach Charbonnet led the backfield in two consecutive winning seasons for the Bruins. Charbonnet spent part of the week in Indianapolis for the NFL combine and is expected to be the fourth Bruins’ running back drafted under Foster and Kelly.
Five-year starting quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson, offensive lineman Jon Gaines II and receiver Jake Bobo…
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