UCLA football coach Chip Kelly announced that three of his assistant coaches received updated titles on Monday.

The announcement might indicate that Kelly, who was reportedly a potential offensive coordinator candidate for the NFL’s Las Vegas Raiders and Washington Commanders (positions that have now been filled), is remaining in Westwood for the 2024 season.

Kelly will continue to serve as his own offensive coordinator and play-caller but provided that coaches Tim Drevno (offensive line) and Jerry Neuheisel (wide receivers) will have new titles as coordinators.

Drevno will serve as the running game coordinator while wide receiver coach Jerry Neuheisel will coordinate the Bruins’ passing game.

Assistant head coach Brian Norwood was listed as the Passing Game Coordinator in 2023. Norwood is expected to continue as the safeties coach.

Cornerbacks coach Kodi Whitfield will continue his defensive role but also add the title of special teams coordinator.

“Tim, Jerry and Kodi are versatile coaches who bring different, valuable perspectives to our coaching staff,” Kelly said in a statement. “They will continue to be tremendous assets for our players and me going forward.”

It was not disclosed if the trio was given a financial increase along with the new titles but the added roles could be viewed as a level of stability among the staff after Kelly’s coaching staff had already been reshuffled this offseason.

Kelly made significant hires this offseason including moving Ikaika Malloe to defensive coordinator and adding Akron offensive coordinator Billy Fessler as quarterbacks coach last month.

Malloe was promoted after serving as the defensive line / outside linebackers coach last season. He was special teams coordinator and defensive line coach when he was initially hired by Kelly in 2022. A staff member was not listed with the special teams role for the 2023 season.

Kelly also hired Tony Washington Jr. and Darren Uscher away from Oregon.

Washington was added as the new outside linebackers and defensive line coach. He was an assistant coach at Oregon last season.

Uscher was brought on in a new role as the program’s general manager and executive director of recruiting on Jan. 23.

“Darren brings valuable experience and perspective to our program that will enhance the foundation and values already in place,” Kelly said in a statement after the hiring.

Uscher was a player personnel and scouting consultant for the Ducks in 2023 before arriving in Westwood. He also spent time working at Auburn, Boise State and Georgetown throughout his career.

UCLA still has positions to fill on the coaching staff after the departure of running backs coach DeShaun Foster and tight ends coach Ken Niumatalolo.

Foster is expected to be hired by the Raiders and Niumatalolo became San Jose State’s next head coach. Foster had been promoted to associated head coach in 2023 and Niumatalolo spent his first season in Westwood as the director of leadership before being named the tight ends coach in January.

Defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn (USC), quarterbacks coach Ryan Gunderson (Oregon State) and tight ends coach Jeff Faris (Austin Peay) had already left UCLA’s staff following the conclusion of the 2023 season.

UCLA may also add some analysts to the program to make up for the loss of defensive analyst Greg Burns and recruiting analyst Josh Irvin, who were hired by San Jose State.

Ali’i Niumatalolo, Ken’s son, spent the past two seasons at UCLA as an assistant but took a job as Utah Tech’s new outside linebackers coach.

Recruiting trail

San Juan Hills linebacker Weston Port became the Bruins’ first commit for the 2025 recruiting class on Sunday.

Port is listed as a four-star prospect on the 247sports Composite and holds offers from Texas A&M, Ohio State, Georgia and Michigan among others.

The 6-foot-2, 225-pound linebacker was named to the All-CIF Division 3 team and the OC Varsity’s second team.

UCLA has continued to develop a pipeline with the San Juan Hills program. Braden Pegan is currently a receiver for the Bruins. Sean Rhyan started all three seasons on the offensive line before being drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the third round of the 2022 NFL draft.