The coaching search has commenced officially at UCLA, and the Bruins are unleashing a star-studded committee to spearhead it. Thursday morning, the school revealed that it had a five-member panel filled with power players throughout the sports world. There is one notable missing element that is sending fans into a hyper-frenzy.

Athletic Director Martin Jarmond will be the chair of the group. The group will be chaired by Athletic Director Martin Jarmond. Including Commanders general manager Adam Peters, longtime NBA executive Bob Myers.  Sports mogul Casey Wasserman, former UCLA and NFL linebacker Eric Kendricks, and senior associate athletic director Erin Adkins. Peters and Myers were both instrumental in Washington’s decision to hire Dan Quinn. A move that paid off immediately as the Commanders stormed their way to the NFC Championship Game in his first season.

But it is the omitted name that is making headlines. The former Bruins quarterback, Troy Aikman, who served as a member of the search committee during the hiring of Chip Kelly in 2017, has been left out. This slip is particularly notable with reference to his background, as well as his continued involvement with the program. The job of the committee is quite obvious: to replace DeShaun Foster. He was dismissed just three weeks into the season after a crushing loss to New Mexico.

In the meantime, Tim Skipper, hired in July as a special assistant to Foster, has been elevated to interim head coach. For Wasserman, this is familiar territory. A 1996 UCLA graduate, he sat on the committee that landed Kelly. At the time, it was considered one of the program’s biggest recruiting victories. Former senior associate athletic director Josh Rebholz is no longer in the picture. He played a role in UCLA’s last major coaching search. However, he stepped down in 2024 after 13 years with the Bruins. Leaving the new committee to chart its own course without his influence.

This time, the search won’t be rushed. By moving on from Foster just three weeks into the season, Jarmond and his committee have given themselves months to evaluate the landscape. A decision is likely coming after the close of the regular season in December. Still, the omission of Troy Aikman from the committee has left fans questioning the school’s direction, turning what should have been a straightforward process into another layer of debate around UCLA football.

Fans react to Troy Aikman’s absence from UCLA’s coaching search committee

“Where’s Troy Aikman?” one fan tweeted. Echoing a sentiment shared by many who were surprised by the Hall of Famer’s absence. The current “Monday Night Football” broadcaster, who has been vocal about the sagging attendance at the Rose Bowl, brings credibility and a deep connection to UCLA football. Qualities missing from this new committee.

“VERY surprised that Troy Aikman is not on this list (at least as of now),” another fan commented. Aikman’s legacy at UCLA is hard to overstate. He led the Bruins to a 20-4 record, earned All-American honors, and was West Coast Player of the Year. And became the first UCLA player to win the Davey O’Brien Award. His absence from the search committee leaves many questioning the choice.

“Good, Troy isn’t involved since his last recommendation gave UCLA Chip,” a fan added, highlighting past controversy. Although the input made by Aikman earlier assisted in getting Kelly to UCLA, a move that had mixed results over six seasons. His voice has not lost its weight in the program because of his success in the NFL: he won three Super Bowls, six Pro Bowls, and is a Hall of Fame member.

“No Troy Aikman is a bit surprising, but otherwise I’m okay with this list for #UCLA’s football coaching search committee,” another fan noted. Beyond his athletic accomplishments, Aikman returned to UCLA in 2008 to complete his sociology degree. Proving his commitment to follow through on tasks both on and off the field.

Meanwhile, voices like Mark Schipper on The Bald Faced Truth Podcast argue that the athletic director, not a committee, should hold sole responsibility for the hire. “I hate this idea,” Schipper said. “Meetings about meetings about meetings. It sounds like they’re looking for a hire that donors and stakeholders, Troy Aikman, the Wasserman Family, are going to be on board with.” During the NIL era, it is apparent that UCLA has to walk the fine line between the approval of the donor, stakeholder, and football approach. A fact that has now been highlighted by Aikman’s absence.