UCLA Bruins hire former Philadelphia Eagles coach, Chip Kelly
Former Philadelphia Eagles head coach Chip Kelly is back where he belongs. He’s back in college football as he agrees to take the UCLA Bruins job.
Well, we can officially provide clarity on what we’ve all, no doubt, been hearing all week. Despite some interest from the SEC‘s Florida Gators, former Philadelphia Eagles coach Chip Kelly will return to the college ranks, but it will be on the west coast, not in the south.
According to ESPN’s Mark Schlabach, he’s agreed to a five-year deal with the UCLA Bruins. Said deal will pay him, roughly, $4 million annually. More importantly, it will probably give him what he seems to desire just about everywhere he goes, total control.
How did this happen?
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Though being linked to several other coaching vacancies at the collegiate level, Kelly was a serious candidate for the Gators. That was before UCLA decided to part ways with Jim Mora Jr. one day after another loss to the USC Trojans. Kelly, probably already desiring a position on the west coast and already having familiarity with the PAC-12 Conference, honestly appears to be a better fit in Westwood than he would have been in “The Swamp”.
During his time with the Oregon Ducks, he made them nationally relevant for their on-field play and their flashy jersey combinations. As the program’s leader, he led Oregon to a 46-7 record and an appearance in the 2010 BCS Championship Game.
It’s his pro career that sticks out in the minds of Eagles fans however. His tenure in Philadelphia will be remembered for him shipping fan favorites out of town and seemingly destroying a competitive Eagles franchise from within.
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After two consecutive 10-6 seasons, Kelly was fired following a 6-9 record in his third campaign. Philly missed the playoffs in Kelly’s last two seasons, but he had long lost the team. The Eagles organization decided to move on from him with one game remaining on the 2015 schedule.
Then, the Eagles went on to play their most impressive and complete game of the season as they dominated the rival New York Giants on the road. Coincidence? We think not.