Neuheisel to UCLA
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by NavyCrimson » Sat Dec 29, 2007 10:29 pm
Done deal.
http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-neu ... &cset=true
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Neuheisel goes back to school
Former Bruins quarterback and assistant answers questions about his past and returns to UCLA as head coach.
By Chris Foster
Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
6:40 PM PST, December 29, 2007
Rick Neuheisel, trying to talk over the static and technical problems on a conference call, was able to make one thing clear after being named UCLA's football coach today.
"There is going to be a moment when I sit back in my chair at Morgan Hall and pinch myself and think how lucky it is to be back home," Neuheisel said.
While that can be left to different interpretations, there was no doubt that the Bruins' prodigal coach was relieved to be back at UCLA, ending a monthlong process to replace Karl Dorrell.
Neuheisel and UCLA agreed on a five-year deal that will pay him $1.25-million per season and includes incentives that could add another $500,000 a year. It is the latest step in what has been a tumultuous collegiate coaching path for Neuheisel, one that led back to UCLA, where he was a player and an assistant coach.
He brings with him a 66-30 record during eight seasons as head coach at Washington and Colorado, though his departure coincided with NCAA investigations at both universities.
Neuheisel will finish out his duties as the Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator today, then will be introduced at a UCLA news conference Monday before he starts assembling a staff and shoring up recruiting.
He can accomplish a little of both by retaining DeWayne Walker, the Bruins' defensive coordinator who was the interim coach for the Las Vegas Bowl. Walker, who was also a finalist for the job, is the linchpin for the Bruins' recruiting efforts.
Neuheisel said he would meet with Walker, adding, it is "important to do everything I can to make him feel welcome."
UCLA Athletic Director Dan Guerrero, meanwhile, said he had found the right person for the job after an "exhaustive" search in which Boise State's Chris Petersen refused to participate and Oregon Coach Mike Bellotti issued a rough "thanks, but no thanks" statement.
"Rick was on our radar screen from the beginning," Guerrero said. "He had a good track record as a collegiate coach and that ultimately was the deciding factor in our decision."
Other issues had to be addressed first. Neuheisel spent four seasons at Colorado, leaving behind a lengthy list of secondary violations that helped land the Buffaloes on probation for two years. He spent four seasons at Washington before being fired for his involvement in an NCAA basketball betting pool. He later won a wrongful termination case and received a $4.5-million settlement from the NCAA and Washington.
Neuheisel, 46, was able to deal effectively with his past in interviews with Guerrero and UCLA Chancellor Gene Block, allowing them to satisfy a number of prominent alumni and former Bruins' players who had been pushing hard for Neuheisel.
Neuheisel has long coveted the UCLA job. He turned it down after the 1995 season, having been at Colorado for only one season. When the Bruins' job opened again after the 2002 season, Neuheisel's coaching history was tainted with issues that he had to address during the interview process the past few weeks.
"I wanted to set the record straight and make sure they understood what had taken place," said Neuheisel, who has spent the last three seasons as an assistant with the Ravens.
"I take full responsibility and, while I'm not proud of it, I've certainly learned from that and will make sure it wouldn't happen again."
Said Guerrero: "I looked Rick in the eye, he looked me in the eye, and we conveyed very clearly what our thoughts were. This happened five to 10 years ago and he said he is much wiser and more mature."
Guerrero also said that conversations with officials from the NCAA, the Pacific 10 Conference, Washington and Colorado gave him "comfort" to move forward.
"I hope that he has learned from the difficulties he has encountered previously," Pac-10 Commissioner Tom Hansen said. "I'm convinced he has and I'm convinced he has convinced Dan Guerrero and Chancellor Block of that.
"He comes in like any other coach coming into the conference. He certainly paid a price for his past violations. I would like to think he would recognize UCLA has given him a great opportunity, a chance get back into college football, and that he would treat it like the very, very precious opportunity that it is."
The issues of Neuheisel's past was the only thing that slowed his hire, sources familiar with the search said. He fit the profile set down by Guerrero in every other way.
Neuheisel was the quarterback for the Bruins in a 45-9 victory over Illinois in the 1984 Rose Bowl and was also an UCLA assistant from 1986-93. That makes him well versed in the difficulties of coaching at UCLA, where academic requirements are stricter than at other Pac-10 schools and assistant coach pay has not kept up with the cost of living in Southern California.
His teams have always been high efficient offensively, the area where the Bruins need to improve considerably.
He has also proven to be capable of competing at a high level in the conference. Neuheisel led Washington to a Rose Bowl victory and No. 3 finish nationally in 2000. The Huskies also had two second-place finishes in the conference.
What he also brings to UCLA is a strong personality that could counterbalance USC Coach Pete Carroll.
"I admire what they have built over there and it is up to us at UCLA to become the type of rival that when USC and UCLA square off it is the game of the year," Neuheisel said.
USC has won eight of the last nine games against the Bruins.
"He's always been a really good recruiter," Carroll said. "The time up in Washington, he proved he could recruit and battle against the tops of this conference. They were an excellent program when he left there and so I don't think there's any doubt that he has a lot of energy for it. He's a very competitive guy and I think he'll do a great job."
A job Neuheisel is happy to have.
"I missed Saturday [football]," Neuheisel said. "I'm not only returning on Saturdays, I'm returning to my alma mater. It's a dream come true."
Times Staff Writers Chris Dufresne and Gary Klein contributed to this story.
[email protected]
http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-neu ... &cset=true
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Neuheisel goes back to school
Former Bruins quarterback and assistant answers questions about his past and returns to UCLA as head coach.
By Chris Foster
Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
6:40 PM PST, December 29, 2007
Rick Neuheisel, trying to talk over the static and technical problems on a conference call, was able to make one thing clear after being named UCLA's football coach today.
"There is going to be a moment when I sit back in my chair at Morgan Hall and pinch myself and think how lucky it is to be back home," Neuheisel said.
While that can be left to different interpretations, there was no doubt that the Bruins' prodigal coach was relieved to be back at UCLA, ending a monthlong process to replace Karl Dorrell.
Neuheisel and UCLA agreed on a five-year deal that will pay him $1.25-million per season and includes incentives that could add another $500,000 a year. It is the latest step in what has been a tumultuous collegiate coaching path for Neuheisel, one that led back to UCLA, where he was a player and an assistant coach.
He brings with him a 66-30 record during eight seasons as head coach at Washington and Colorado, though his departure coincided with NCAA investigations at both universities.
Neuheisel will finish out his duties as the Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator today, then will be introduced at a UCLA news conference Monday before he starts assembling a staff and shoring up recruiting.
He can accomplish a little of both by retaining DeWayne Walker, the Bruins' defensive coordinator who was the interim coach for the Las Vegas Bowl. Walker, who was also a finalist for the job, is the linchpin for the Bruins' recruiting efforts.
Neuheisel said he would meet with Walker, adding, it is "important to do everything I can to make him feel welcome."
UCLA Athletic Director Dan Guerrero, meanwhile, said he had found the right person for the job after an "exhaustive" search in which Boise State's Chris Petersen refused to participate and Oregon Coach Mike Bellotti issued a rough "thanks, but no thanks" statement.
"Rick was on our radar screen from the beginning," Guerrero said. "He had a good track record as a collegiate coach and that ultimately was the deciding factor in our decision."
Other issues had to be addressed first. Neuheisel spent four seasons at Colorado, leaving behind a lengthy list of secondary violations that helped land the Buffaloes on probation for two years. He spent four seasons at Washington before being fired for his involvement in an NCAA basketball betting pool. He later won a wrongful termination case and received a $4.5-million settlement from the NCAA and Washington.
Neuheisel, 46, was able to deal effectively with his past in interviews with Guerrero and UCLA Chancellor Gene Block, allowing them to satisfy a number of prominent alumni and former Bruins' players who had been pushing hard for Neuheisel.
Neuheisel has long coveted the UCLA job. He turned it down after the 1995 season, having been at Colorado for only one season. When the Bruins' job opened again after the 2002 season, Neuheisel's coaching history was tainted with issues that he had to address during the interview process the past few weeks.
"I wanted to set the record straight and make sure they understood what had taken place," said Neuheisel, who has spent the last three seasons as an assistant with the Ravens.
"I take full responsibility and, while I'm not proud of it, I've certainly learned from that and will make sure it wouldn't happen again."
Said Guerrero: "I looked Rick in the eye, he looked me in the eye, and we conveyed very clearly what our thoughts were. This happened five to 10 years ago and he said he is much wiser and more mature."
Guerrero also said that conversations with officials from the NCAA, the Pacific 10 Conference, Washington and Colorado gave him "comfort" to move forward.
"I hope that he has learned from the difficulties he has encountered previously," Pac-10 Commissioner Tom Hansen said. "I'm convinced he has and I'm convinced he has convinced Dan Guerrero and Chancellor Block of that.
"He comes in like any other coach coming into the conference. He certainly paid a price for his past violations. I would like to think he would recognize UCLA has given him a great opportunity, a chance get back into college football, and that he would treat it like the very, very precious opportunity that it is."
The issues of Neuheisel's past was the only thing that slowed his hire, sources familiar with the search said. He fit the profile set down by Guerrero in every other way.
Neuheisel was the quarterback for the Bruins in a 45-9 victory over Illinois in the 1984 Rose Bowl and was also an UCLA assistant from 1986-93. That makes him well versed in the difficulties of coaching at UCLA, where academic requirements are stricter than at other Pac-10 schools and assistant coach pay has not kept up with the cost of living in Southern California.
His teams have always been high efficient offensively, the area where the Bruins need to improve considerably.
He has also proven to be capable of competing at a high level in the conference. Neuheisel led Washington to a Rose Bowl victory and No. 3 finish nationally in 2000. The Huskies also had two second-place finishes in the conference.
What he also brings to UCLA is a strong personality that could counterbalance USC Coach Pete Carroll.
"I admire what they have built over there and it is up to us at UCLA to become the type of rival that when USC and UCLA square off it is the game of the year," Neuheisel said.
USC has won eight of the last nine games against the Bruins.
"He's always been a really good recruiter," Carroll said. "The time up in Washington, he proved he could recruit and battle against the tops of this conference. They were an excellent program when he left there and so I don't think there's any doubt that he has a lot of energy for it. He's a very competitive guy and I think he'll do a great job."
A job Neuheisel is happy to have.
"I missed Saturday [football]," Neuheisel said. "I'm not only returning on Saturdays, I'm returning to my alma mater. It's a dream come true."
Times Staff Writers Chris Dufresne and Gary Klein contributed to this story.
[email protected]
BRING BACK THE GLORY DAYS OF SMU FOOTBALL!!!
For some strange reason, one of the few universities that REFUSE to use their school colors: Harvard Crimson & Yale Blue.
For some strange reason, one of the few universities that REFUSE to use their school colors: Harvard Crimson & Yale Blue.
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NavyCrimson 
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by Billy Joe » Sat Dec 29, 2007 10:35 pm
He is making a lot less than what SMU is supposedly paying.....maybe we were not intersted in him afterall......does not make sense because he would have been a great hire at SMU...a WOW hire in my opinon...we shall see what Orsini has in store for us...better be good.
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Billy Joe 
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by PonyKai » Sun Dec 30, 2007 12:33 am
I'm not even sure he would have been good for SMU after listening to Mark May. Yes, I think he can coach. Yes, I think he would succeed here. Yes, initially I wanted him here.
Once he was hired May was calling it a questionable hire because of his past transgressions, but looking at a different angle. In general, he said that if you sue the NCAA, and the University, and win a settlement, and are exonerated publicly, the NCAA is going to pay very, very close attention to you. He said that in 3 years either UCLA will be the cleanest program in the nation or on probation.
Now imagine that scenario at SMU. I just don't think it would be beneficial trying to rebuild a football program while inviting that kind of scrutiny. Seems a little difficult to put into words now, but the idea of that just didn't seem right. At the same time, I still think that unless someone interferes with him, he would have done great here, if he even had the slightest interest.
But I'm still all for nail the best coach possible, and worry about any spin control later. And a prestigious rumor mill said we had moved past worrying about NCAA violations, so who knows.
Once he was hired May was calling it a questionable hire because of his past transgressions, but looking at a different angle. In general, he said that if you sue the NCAA, and the University, and win a settlement, and are exonerated publicly, the NCAA is going to pay very, very close attention to you. He said that in 3 years either UCLA will be the cleanest program in the nation or on probation.
Now imagine that scenario at SMU. I just don't think it would be beneficial trying to rebuild a football program while inviting that kind of scrutiny. Seems a little difficult to put into words now, but the idea of that just didn't seem right. At the same time, I still think that unless someone interferes with him, he would have done great here, if he even had the slightest interest.
But I'm still all for nail the best coach possible, and worry about any spin control later. And a prestigious rumor mill said we had moved past worrying about NCAA violations, so who knows.
- PonyKai
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by Big Hoss » Sun Dec 30, 2007 1:06 am
Couldn't agree with you more STL. The only difference is that I didn't want Neuheisel to come here int he first place for the reasons you pointed out. He's a scum bag who screwed over Colorado, then moved on while that program suffered the consequences of his actions. Then at Washington, he participated in a gambling pool - and every NCAA coach knows how taboo gambling is.
To me, the announcement that he was hired by UCLA was good news and bad news to me - good news that he wasn't coming here, and bad news that it was yet another coaching vacancy being filled that wasn't ours.
To me, the announcement that he was hired by UCLA was good news and bad news to me - good news that he wasn't coming here, and bad news that it was yet another coaching vacancy being filled that wasn't ours.
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by Big Hoss » Sun Dec 30, 2007 1:13 am
SMU89 wrote:Glad UCLA hired someone as I felt the June Jones competition for SMU was going to be between UCLA and the NFL. Now it is the NFL.
Sadly, you may be right. But here's an interesting question for you...completely hypothetical, of course:
For the exact same money, would you take the SMU head coaching job or the one for the Atlanta Falcons?
- Big Hoss
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by SMU89 » Sun Dec 30, 2007 1:14 am
Big Hoss wrote:SMU89 wrote:Glad UCLA hired someone as I felt the June Jones competition for SMU was going to be between UCLA and the NFL. Now it is the NFL.
Sadly, you may be right. But here's an interesting question for you...completely hypothetical, of course:
For the exact same money, would you take the SMU head coaching job or the one for the Atlanta Falcons?
Sadly that we might have to compete against an NFL offer to Jones or
sadly that we might get June Jones?
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SMU89 - Posts: 5216
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by Big Hoss » Sun Dec 30, 2007 1:15 am
SMU89 wrote:Big Hoss wrote:SMU89 wrote:Glad UCLA hired someone as I felt the June Jones competition for SMU was going to be between UCLA and the NFL. Now it is the NFL.
Sadly, you may be right. But here's an interesting question for you...completely hypothetical, of course:
For the exact same money, would you take the SMU head coaching job or the one for the Atlanta Falcons?
Sadly that we might have to compete against an NFL offer to Jones or
sadly that we might get June Jones?
Sadly that he may only have considered UCLA or the NFL, and not SMU.
- Big Hoss
- Posts: 3179
- Joined: Tue Dec 11, 2007 3:02 pm
- Location: DFW, Texas
by SMU89 » Sun Dec 30, 2007 1:22 am
Big Hoss wrote:SMU89 wrote:Big Hoss wrote:SMU89 wrote:Glad UCLA hired someone as I felt the June Jones competition for SMU was going to be between UCLA and the NFL. Now it is the NFL.
Sadly, you may be right. But here's an interesting question for you...completely hypothetical, of course:
For the exact same money, would you take the SMU head coaching job or the one for the Atlanta Falcons?
Sadly that we might have to compete against an NFL offer to Jones or
sadly that we might get June Jones?
Sadly that he may only have considered UCLA or the NFL, and not SMU.
I don't think he has ruled SMU or anyone else out. Bottom line, he will not discuss anything publicly until after their game.
In regards to SMU vs Atlanta, who knows what makes someone tick. If the money is the same, he might prefer college -- he left the NFL already.
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SMU89 - Posts: 5216
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