UCLA officially promotes Kennedy Polamalu to offensive coordinator

UCLA running back coach Kennedy Polamalu talks to his player during the Bruins morning practice at Cal State San Bernardino in San Bernardino, Ca., Wednesday, August 19, 2015. (Photo by John Valenzuela/The Sun)

UCLA hopes that promoting running backs coach Kennedy Polamalu to offensive coordinator will make for a “a multifaceted offense.” (John Valenzuela/Staff)

UCLA has officially announced its promotion of Kennedy Polamalu to offensive coordinator, as well as the hiring of Marques Tuiasosopo and Rip Scherer — moves that the team hopes will help build a more diverse offense.

“As we continue to evolve as a program and tailor our philosophies and schemes to the strengths of our players, what you will see is a multifaceted offense incorporating tight ends and fullbacks into our schemes,” head coach Jim Mora said in a statement. “Our objective is to be a big, strong and physical offensive unit that has flexibility of personnel groupings. I know we have the right men in Kennedy, Marques and Rip to implement this philosophy.”

ANALYSIS: Breaking down the implications of UCLA’s new coaching hires

Polamalu’s new role comes after two seasons of working as the Bruins’ running backs coach, a period that saw him become one of the most effective members of the staff. UCLA has averaged 4.95 yards per carry since he arrived in Westwood, and have developed depth at running back to replace former Pac-12 leading rusher Paul Perkins, who declared for the NFL draft. Continue reading “UCLA officially promotes Kennedy Polamalu to offensive coordinator” »

UCLA close to hiring Kennedy Polamalu as offensive coordinator

UCLA running backs coach Kennedy Polamalu is close to being promoted to offensive coordinator. (Brad Graverson/Staff)

UCLA running backs coach Kennedy Polamalu is close to being promoted to offensive coordinator. (Brad Graverson/Staff)

UCLA appears close to promoting running backs coach Kennedy Polamalu to offensive coordinator, filling the vacancy left by Noel Mazzone earlier this week.

Polamalu’s name has been floated for the position ever since Mazzone took the same position at Texas A&M earlier this week. 247 Sports first reported this morning that Polamalu has accepted the offer.

The 52-year-old held the title of offensive coordinator at USC from 2010-12, but ceded playcalling duties to then-head coach Lane Kiffin. He has served as UCLA’s running backs coach for the past two seasons, but his responsibilities have expanded beyond the backfield, working with the offensive line when position coach Adrian Klemm was suspended for the first two games of the season.

The Bruins are also set to hire USC assistant Marques Tuiasosopo to replace former quarterbacks coach Taylor Mazzone, expected to follow his father to College State. Tuiasosopo was UCLA’s Y-receivers coach in 2012, but left to join Steve Sarkisian’s staff at Washington. He was the interim coach during the Huskies’ 31-16 win over BYU in the 2013 Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl before following Sarkisian to USC.

UPDATE: Rip Scherer is also set to become UCLA’s tight ends coach, according to FOX Sports. The 63-year-old has served as a Bruin associate athletic director for the past two years, but has decades of coaching experience in both the NFL and college.