Dan Guerrero opening statement:
“I am extremely excited that Jim Mora Jr. has accepted the position of head football coach here at UCLA. He brings with him tremendous football acumen, of course having coached in the NFL for over 20 years. He is high-energy, hard-nosed, disciplined and organized. He’s coached defense his whole life, and that bodes well for us with the kind of offensive firepower we see in our conference. Though he’s never coached a game in college, bottom line is he is a terrific football coach, and he will surround himself with a staff that will aid in the transition from pro football to college football. Lastly, he shares many of the same values that we do at UCLA.
“I’ve spoken to several players who have played for him. He is a player’s coach, he’s civic minded, and more importantly he has a sincere desire to win championships. We’re excited to have him. I know he’s excited to be a Bruin.”
Jim L. Mora opening statement:
“I want to start off bny saying I’m deeply humbled and honored that Chancellor Block and DG have selected me to lead the UCLA FB program. As someone who has been aroudn the game of football my entire life, i’ve held this joba t UCLA in high esteem. I think UCLA is truly a sleeping giant, and I realize that an opportunity like this, of this magnitude, doesn’t present itself more than oncei n a coaching career. When the job was offered, I jumped at the chance to be a Bruin. our objectives are going to be simple, and that’s to make Bruin fans proud of their football team. I’m going to work extremely hard to assemble the best coaching staff in college football, great coaches who can teach, motivate, recruit and mentor, and help kids who can grow through college, mature into men who can lead productive, successful lives, in whatever they do. We’re going to recruit student athletes who will win both in the classroom and on the field. Great players who love to compete, who are smart, tough, hard-nosed and represent UCLA with dignity, class and who are proud to be Bruins.
JLM on not having any recruiting experience:
“We’re going to attack recruiting with relentless passion. I’m going to hire some great recruiters who are experienced in recruiting and turn them loose. We’re going to attack it full throttle. I’m going to use the credibility I’ve gained in coaching in the NFL for 25 years to get myself into some of those homes and convince these kids that not only can we help them be great football players, but present them an opportunity to get a great education at one of the outstanding academic institutions in America.”
JLM on embarking on a new challenge:
“It is very different, and I’ve taken the last year and a half or so, and I’ve studied it as much as I can. There certainly are many challenges I will face in adapting to the college game. But it’s something I’m very, very excited about attacking. It’s a great challenge. I love challenges. I love to compete. I have an intensity about me that I think will serve me well in learning this new endeavor that I’m embarking on. When you get right down to it and you get past the recruiting, football is football. I tthnk I’m a good football coach from an X’s and O’s standpoint. I think I’m a good motivator of men and a good leader of men and I’m really excited about the chance to prove that.”