Dir. of FB ops hired

UCLA coach Rick Neuheisel hired Darren Witcher, a long-time high school assistant football coach in the Seattle area, as the Bruins director of football operations. The release from UCLA follows:

UCLA FOOTBALL HIRES FOOTBALL OPERATIONS DIRECTOR

UCLA head football coach Rick Neuheisel announced today the hiring of Darren Witcher as Director of Football Operations.

Witcher, 47, a longtime high school assistant football coach in the state of Washington, has worked in the Seattle area for over 18 years as a project manager for aerospace giant Boeing. A former student-athlete at the University of Washington, Witcher has kept his love of football alive the last 17 years while serving as an assistant coach at Seattle area high schools (Franklin, Garfield and Rainier Beach).

Witcher coached the last nine years at Rainier Beach High School and has also headed up the school’s National Football Foundation-sponsored “Play It Smart” program. “Play It Smart” seeks to transform the student-athlete’s passion for their sport and dedication to their team into a force for greater good in their lives through a combination of academic assistance, mentoring and community service. In 2003 and 2004, one of the other coaches on the Rainier Beach staff was a volunteer coach named Rick Neuheisel.

Witcher played defensive back at the University of Washington for coach Don James during the 1979-82 seasons. The Huskies posted an overall record of 39-9 and appeared in four straight bowls in that stretch, including the 1981 and 1982 Rose Bowl games. His career ended during his senior season due to a knee injury.