College football hot seat: 10 head coaches feeling the heat in 2021
4. Chip Kelly (UCLA)
So what is going on with Chip Kelly?
He was an offensive genius who was a play away from reaching the top of the college football world while at Oregon. He then made the leap to the NFL where it did not work out. Deciding to return to the college game, UCLA went in huge on Kelly with a $23 million contract in 2017. This should be his big comeback, but Kelly only has a 10-21 record in three seasons with the Bruins.
UCLA fans anticipating that Kelly would bring his playbook from Oregon have been disappointed as he now prefers to run a slower pro-style offense these days. It is a striking departure from his old up-tempo spread offense, which Kelly believes is outdated.
Meanwhile, recruiting has fallen off a bit from his first year, and he has lost a few players through the transfer portal.
light. Related Story. Is 2021 Chip Kelly’s last chance for a turnaround?
However, could Chip Kelly be getting close to rounding a corner? In 2020, the Bruins went 3-4 with all four losses by less than seven points. They finished No. 21 in total offense which was up from No. 65 the previous season.
Perhaps a good sign for the program is that several players have chosen to return next season including junior quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson.
On the other hand, UCLA hired a new athletic director last year. While UCLA’s athletic department is not in the best situation financially, a newly announced upcoming partnership with Jordan Brand might help to make their decision on Kelly a little easier if things do not work out next season.