UCLA's Jim Mora overhauls staff for new 'multifaceted offense'
After the departure of offensive coordinator Noel Mazzone to Texas A&M, UCLA head coach Jim Mora has completely overhauled his offensive staff.
Mora announced Wednesday that running backs coach Kennedy Polamalu has been promoted to offensive coordinator. He also confirmed the additions of Marques Tuiasosopo and Rip Scherer as quarterbacks and tight ends coach, respectively. Mora also hinted at changes offensively that move away from the spread and toward a more power-oriented style.
“As we continue to evolve as a program and tailor our philosophies and schemes to the strengths of our players, what you will see is a multifaceted offense incorporating tight ends and fullbacks into our schemes,” said Mora. “Our objective is to be a big, strong and physical offensive unit that has flexibility of personnel groupings. I know we have the right men in Kennedy, Marques and Rip to implement this philosophy."
Polamalu has been with UCLA as running backs coach since 2013. Before that he was the offensive coordinator at USC from 2010-12 and served as an assistant with the Jacksonville Jaguars and Cleveland Browns and collegiately at San Diego State and Colorado.
“Kennedy has been instrumental in developing game plans with us for two years now,” Mora said. “Play calling is a function of preparation during the week and understanding tendencies, and you’ll be hard pressed to find someone who prepares better and understands tendencies more than KP. He brings a real element of toughness to this staff. He’s disciplined, he’s organized and he’s extremely well respected, revered really, by our players.”
Tuiasosopo, a former NFL quarterback, spent the last two seasons as tight ends coach at USC after a year at Washington, his alma mater, and a previous two-year stint with UCLA.
“Marques and I obviously share an alma mater and our fathers were both together at UCLA in the 1970s as player and coach, but the most important similarity is our attention to detail,” Mora said. “Marques is a tactician. He knows being a quarterback inside and out, having competed at the highest level in the NFL. He also has a very commanding presence, which is what it takes to play and coach this particular position as well as deliver our message on the recruiting trail.”
Scherer, 63, will make his return to coaching after serving as an associate athletic director for the Bruins. Scherer previously was a head coach at James Madison (1991-1994) and Memphis (1995-2000) and served as an assistant at Colorado, Southern Miss, Kansas, Arizona, Alabama, Georgia Tech, Virginia, Hawaii, NC State and Penn State. He also was an assistant in the NFL with the Cleveland Browns and Carolina Panthers.
“Rip is a football coach, plain and simple,” Mora said. “It’s what he was born to do, and he has been a tremendous resource to me, our staff and players these past three years. His wealth of football knowledge is surpassed only by his integrity, and you will not find anyone more respected in professional and collegiate football circles around the country than Rip Scherer. His level-headed approach and professionalism make him the ideal fit for this staff.”
For more UCLA news, visit BruinSportsReport.com.
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