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NCAA, College League, USA Football: Iowa at UCLA Nov 8, 2024 Pasadena, California, USA UCLA Bruins defensive coordinator Ikaika Malloe, center, celebrates with linebacker Carson Schwesinger 49 defensive back Jaylin Davies 6 after an interception in the second half against the Iowa Hawkeyes at the Rose Bowl. Pasadena Rose Bowl California USA, EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xJaynexKamin-Onceax 20241108_jko_aj4_060

via Imago
NCAA, College League, USA Football: Iowa at UCLA Nov 8, 2024 Pasadena, California, USA UCLA Bruins defensive coordinator Ikaika Malloe, center, celebrates with linebacker Carson Schwesinger 49 defensive back Jaylin Davies 6 after an interception in the second half against the Iowa Hawkeyes at the Rose Bowl. Pasadena Rose Bowl California USA, EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xJaynexKamin-Onceax 20241108_jko_aj4_060
It’s just been a few days since UCLA fired head coach DeShaun Foster, but the complete overhaul of the program is far from over. In yet another major move, UCLA has officially parted ways with defensive coordinator Ikaika Malloe. The program is desperately trying to fix the situation after it went 0-3, and the swift speed of changes speaks for itself.
Mallow’s stint at UCLA as a defensive coordinator was a mixed bag. He had his moments where he made the defense shine, but he also had stretches of tough luck. If we’re talking numbers, the Bruins’ defense has been in shambles this season. They rank 117th nationally in total defense, 121st in points per game allowed, 123rd in sacks, and at the bottom of the table in tackles for loss. This season, the defense was way too reliant on transfers and was not able to work on its third-down efficiency. Yet, Mallow had an impressive 2024 where he made a top 40 defensive unit after losing 11 starters, but unfortunately, this season, that strategy didn’t work.
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What is Ikaika Malloe’s net worth?
So, what does the UCLA stint add up to for Malloe financially? Well, thanks to his recent salary hike and a lengthy tenure in college football, Malloe’s estimated net worth seems to be in the ballpark of $2 million to $3 million. Most of this is courtesy of his UCLA contract over the past four years. And the rest is all the green from his previous roles at Washington and Utah State, where he enjoyed six-figure earnings as a respected assistant.
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Salary and contract
Malloe’s salary saw a big jump in 2024. He was set to earn $1 million for the year. For context, in 2023, he was earning $485,000. 2024 was the highest point in his career, compensation-wise. He was also eligible for $115,000 bonus, albeit on some specific achievements. His deals were filled with incentives for hitting defensive benchmarks.
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Three days after firing its head coach, UCLA has mutually parted ways with second-year defensive coordinator Ikaika Malloe.
📝: https://t.co/I19wxtiSau pic.twitter.com/gxRHvlaRVh
— Tracy McDannald 📎 (@Tracy_McDannald) September 17, 2025
Career Earnings
When seeing the bigger picture about his coaching career, Malloe’s annual compensation has risen steadily. He started at $60,750 at Utah State back in 2014 but has grinded his way to progressively bigger paychecks at Washington and then cashed in big at UCLA. The total is well over $4 million for him. This covers base salary, some bonuses for bowl appearances, and performance milestones. Throughout his career, he was constantly at the receiving end of contract bumps as he took more and more responsibility.
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Conclusion
This has been quite a journey for Malloe. From earning around $60k to a seven-figure salary at one of the more respected colleges in the nation is no small feat. His departure from UCLA marks yet another closed chapter in his life. But it was defined by both adversity and sustained moments of coaching success. While the Bruins look around for a better fit for their organisation, Malloe leaves with respect, hard-earned financial stability, and a resume that will be selected in no time. His reputation as a coach who has guided some terrific players and as a man of high integrity will take him a long way.
Malloe walked into a challenging situation, built a tenacious defense against the odds, and his pay reflected both the risk and the short-lived stability he brought. In college football, and in life, sometimes even your best efforts mean the next opportunity is just around the corner.
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