The UCLA Bruins have quietly put together a nice offseason as they prepare for their second year in the Big Ten. They have done a nice job adding immediate pieces via the transfer portal, while beginning to build out their 2026 recruiting class.
Unfortunately, a major factor contributing to this success was the director of player personnel, Stacey Ford, who has just left UCLA to join the Oklahoma Sooners, according to Matt Zenitz of 247 Sports.
Stacey Ford Leaves UCLA Bruins For Oklahoma Sooners
Ford was one of DeShaun Foster’s top hires when he was named the UCLA Bruins head coach in the spring of 2024.
Prior to coming to Westwood, Ford spent two years at Washington State as the Cougars’ director of recruiting. Before joining the college ranks, Ford got his start in So Cal at the high school level with stops at Warren High School in Downey, California, and Cathedral High School.
While at Washington State, Ford worked with Ben Arbuckle, who is now the offensive coordinator at Oklahoma.
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Ford is seen as one of the bright young personnel coaches in the college game with a very bright future. He will join the Sooners’ newly hired GM Jim Nagy as a front office member, though his true title has yet to be announced.
Nagy has made three other recent hires to his front office. Stacy will join assistant GM Taylor Redd, director of high school scouting Kale Pearson, and assistant director of college scouting Charlie Parkinson.
The UCLA Bruins and DeShaun Foster will need to fill this role quickly. It will be interesting to see if he fills it within the building or looks to the outside.