UCLA head coach Chip Kelly has made the decision to part ways and will now serve as the new offensive coordinator at Ohio State under the guidance of coach Ryan Day. The news of Chip Kelly’s departure was initially reported by Bruce Feldman. Kelly has been seeking an opportunity outside of Los Angeles for over a month now, and with Bill O’Brien accepting the Boston College position, the Buckeyes’ role was an ideal fit for him. He shares a history with Ryan Day, having previously worked together at New Hampshire and other locations.
This move has the potential to be one of the most surprising in the history of college football, considering the schools involved and a head coach leaving his prominent position to become an offensive coordinator. As the regular season was drawing to a close, this unexpected development adds to an offseason filled with coaching changes. Despite talks of severing ties with the head coach intensifying throughout the past year, UCLA had decided to retain Chip Kelly for the 2024 season. However, it is now Kelly who has chosen to embrace a fresh start that doesn’t entail overseeing an entire football program.
In the past couple of months, we have witnessed several college coaches departing in search of better opportunities and reduced responsibilities. The news of Chip Kelly’s departure for Columbus means that another prominent college is now in need of a new head coach in February. Unfortunately for the Bruins, this comes at an inopportune time, with the last signing day occurring on Wednesday and programs currently engaged in offseason workouts. The task of rebuilding the program will undoubtedly be challenging for the next head coach at UCLA. Although the transfer portal window has closed, this move grants UCLA players a thirty-day window to explore other schools.
The predicament lies in the fact that classes have already commenced at most schools, resulting in the majority of the roster having to contemplate transferring during the spring. This decision has the potential to negatively impact the current UCLA roster, particularly if they are dissatisfied with the incoming head coach in Westwood. Ryan Day served as the quarterback at New Hampshire while Chip Kelly was his offensive coordinator, indicating that their history dates back quite some time.
On the other hand, Ohio State will be gaining an experienced offensive coordinator who will have a plethora of offensive weapons at his disposal next season, which is crucial for head coach Ryan Day. After three consecutive losses to Michigan and failing to compete for a championship, the pressure is mounting for the Ohio State head coach. A stellar regular season and triumphing over the formidable Michigan football team are imperative for him.
The news undoubtedly poses a challenge for the UCLA athletic department, although it is unlikely that they were caught off guard. Chip Kelly and his agent Jimmy Sexton have been transparent over the past month about their desire to find an exit strategy, and now they have succeeded in doing so. For the Bruins, conducting a coaching search in the middle of February is far from ideal. Not only will the school need to embark on a nationwide search for a new head coach, but they are doing so at an inconvenient time. Many coaches are already focused on the 2024 season and likely did not anticipate such a prominent job opening at this late stage.
It is also worth noting that UCLA is set to join the Big Ten next season, with a scheduled matchup against Ohio State. Chip Kelly notified his team this afternoon about his departure, triggering the 30-day transfer portal window for current players. As for potential replacements at UCLA, this development will undoubtedly set off a chain reaction. The school possesses the resources to hire an established head coach, particularly with the impending move to the Big Ten. However, when it comes to retaining the current roster, it is conceivable that other schools are already reaching out to UCLA players to discuss their future.
The most intriguing aspect of this situation revolves around UCLA’s preparedness for this move. If discussions about terminating Chip Kelly’s contract after the 2023 season were already underway, it is likely that the school has already compiled a list of vetted candidates. Now, it all comes down to who is willing to accept the job at this late stage. Brace yourself as college football continues to undergo seismic shifts at its core.
According to the Source outkick.com