UCLA pulled the plug on DeShaun Foster after a disastrous 0-3 start, their first winless opening since 2019. Why not? Foster, who stepped in for Chip Kelly in February 2024, well after National Signing Day, never really got a chance to settle, ending up 5-10. And following that, AD Martin Jarmond was candid about the challenges: “I regret putting DeShaun in that position as we were going into the Big Ten. Getting a start so late really disadvantaged the start of his coaching career.” Now, the firing came just two days after a humiliating 35-10 loss to New Mexico, the Bruins’ 2nd straight defeat to a Mountain West opponent. However, with Foster out, UCLA faces deeper concerns.

Well, it’s not just about the coach. UCLA has turned to Tim Skipper as interim leader for the rest of the season, stepping into a brutal stretch with three top-ranked B1G opponents. Skipper knows the pressure because he was Foster’s special assistant and even served as Fresno State’s interim coach in 2024. Still, UCLA’s decision to fire DeShaun Foster wasn’t made lightly. As Jarmond told the media, “It’s not a decision I made lightly, but it was important to take decisive action.” Then he added, “This serves as a message to our fans that the results we’ve seen so far are simply not acceptable.” So, the Bruins are hoping Skipper can steady the ship and signal that mediocrity won’t be tolerated in Westwood. But now, a $200M question looms over UCLA: how will the program recover financially and competitively from this rocky start?

On September 14, Stewart Mandel of The Athletic painted a grim picture for UCLA football. According to him, the problems run far deeper than the head coach. Because the program has faced a staggering $200 million deficit in athletics over the past six years. Look, there’s no NIL treasure trove to lure top recruits. On top of that, fans have grown apathetic, and B1G rivals are investing far more in their programs. So, Mandel’s takeaway? Good luck to the next HC, because turning this ship around won’t be easy. However, DeShaun Foster’s time at UCLA ended after a tumultuous run that never quite clicked.

Here’s the thing: the Bruins stumbled to a 5-7 finish last season after a rough 1-5 start in their first B1G campaign. Following that, Foster, a former UCLA standout and seven-year NFL veteran, had climbed the ranks from RBs coach (2017‑23) to associate HC before earning the top job. But even with the arrival of highly rated transfer QB Nico Iamaleava and more than 50 new players, the team couldn’t find its footing. And the offense floundered, ranking 127th nationally, and costly penalties undermined any momentum they tried to build. Still, Foster believed in his team to the end.

When asked if he was still the right man for the job, he confidently said, “Most definitely. Because I can get these boys to play.” And even Iamaleava defended him, emphasizing, “We’re not executing as players. It all falls back on the players.” But big names and fresh talent weren’t enough to overcome a season of early deficits, sparse crowds, and lopsided losses at the Rose Bowl. But in his statement, Foster reflected on his journey with pride:

“Serving as the HC at UCLA, my beloved alma mater, has been the honor of a lifetime. While I am deeply disappointed that we were unable to achieve the success that our players, fans, and university deserve, I am grateful for the opportunity to have led this program,” stated Foster. Now, with his departure, the Bruins face a critical 30-day transfer window, a chance for a fresh start, and a schedule that will test their resilience against the top teams in the B1G. But that’s not all; there are more questions than answers.

The DeShaun Foster era comes to an end

So, where did Foster stumble? Okay, his brief appearance at the 2024 B1G Media Days was just the tip of the iceberg. In August, he closed training camp to the media, insisting, “No, I’ll let you guys handle all of that… We’re going to work and go away and come back and everything’s going to be fine.” But clearly, everything was not okay. In Los Angeles, where UCLA football fights for attention against the Dodgers, Lakers, USC, and even powerhouse high school programs like Mater Dei, cutting off media access exposed a bigger problem. And it didn’t sink the 5-10 record on its own, but it revealed a fundamental misunderstanding of what it takes to be UCLA’s head coach in 2025. But what did Foster get right?

His 2026 recruiting class is currently ranked 25th in the 247Sports composite. Suppose it holds, which is a big if, it would tie for the program’s best finish since 2018. That’s a bright spot in an otherwise rocky tenure. However, the challenges at UCLA go far beyond one recruiting class. Foster was tasked with navigating a program in flux. Safe to say, he was, as some might say, skating uphill in a hurricane. So, what’s next for Foster and UCLA?

Expect Foster to look for an NFL RBs coaching job, continuing to learn under mentors like Kliff Kingsbury, Jim L. Mora, and Chip Kelly. However, as for UCLA, the questions loom large: Should the Bruins leave the Rose Bowl? Rejoin the Pac-12? Can they compete in the Big Ten long-term? And these aren’t just coaching questions; they’re program-defining dilemmas. So, the next head coach will inherit a mountain to climb, and fans are waiting for answers.