The fallout from Deshaun Foster’s firing continued Tuesday night as the UCLA Bruins made further staff changes. After parting ways with defensive coordinator Ikaika Malloe a week ago, offensive coordinator Tino Sunseri also agreed to part ways this evening.
Tight ends coach Jerry Neuheisel will handle offensive playcalling against Penn State. Neuheisel, a former UCLA quarterback, steps into the role after coaching in various positions for the UCLA Bruins for the past few years.
The Bruins will be looking for any kind of spark. Behind the scenes, Noel Mazzone is expected to return in an analyst role pending approval, adding veteran perspective to a staff in transition.
UCLA Bruins And Tino Sunseri Part Ways
The shake-up comes with the offense at its lowest point in years. UCLA is averaging just 14.3 points per game, third-worst in the country behind only UMass and Northern Illinois, a total disgrace for a Big Ten program.
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The run game has been abysmal, leaving Nico Iamaleava, once a prized SEC recruit, as the team’s leading rusher. That imbalance has made the Bruins predictable, and drives routinely stall before midfield.
By clearing out both coordinators and the head coach, the program is signaling a hard reset. The urgency is obvious: stop the bleeding before the season fully unravels, and more importantly, don’t go winless.
Neuheisel’s playcalling will get its first test against a Penn State defense that ranks among the nation’s toughest. Whether UCLA can climb out of the offensive basement or sink further will be decided in real time this weekend.