Now that the UCLA Bruins have found their Chip Kelly replacement by hiring DeShaun Foster as the head football coach, he needs a right-hand man to help operate the offense. While Kelly had help with the scoring attack, he opted against hiring an offensive coordinator.
Related: UCLA Bruins Offensive Coordinator Candidates: Should Bruins Go With Youth Or Experience?Â
As a first-time head coach, Foster is expected to go the more conventional route of having an offensive coordinator. But who?
We may finally be getting closer to getting an answer thanks to a collection of rumors spreading on the internet.
Eric Bieniemy Becoming UCLA Bruins Offensive Coordinator Gaining Steam
The UCLA Bruins are surely casting a wide net in their search for the next offensive coordinator. This likely includes former UCLA alums, and anyone who’s ever crossed paths with DeShaun Foster in the football world.
Yet, there’s one name that rumors are pointing to who’s never worked with Foster.
Eric Bieniemy has spent three seasons working for the UCLA Bruins, beginning in 2003 as the running backs coach, adding the title of recruiting coordinator in 2005. But he never worked at UCLA when Foster was with the Bruins, from 1998-2001.
Yet, if the mounting internet speculation is true, the two-time Super Bowl-winning offensive coordinator may get his chance to work with Foster at UCLA.
Bieniemy’s most recent title included calling plays as the Washington Commanders’ offensive coordinator in 2023. Yet, once the new ownership group wanted to put their own fingerprints on Washington’s future, the entire coaching staff was let go, including Bieniemy.
Now, the former NFL running back finds himself looking for work when there are no more offensive coordinator vacancies. This means joining the Bruins could be his best opportunity to stay involved in football during the 2024 season.
Despite having worked extensively with the Kansas City Chiefs in the past, with Matt Nagy entrenched as the offensive coordinator, finding a better role for Bieniemy may be tough to do. Yet, Kansas City and Washington’s loss could wind up being a big gain for UCLA.
