Former Navy Coach Ken Niumatalolo Joins UCLA Staff

The longtime Midshipmen coach is joining Chip Kelly’s staff in an interesting role

Former Navy coach Ken Niumatalolo is joining Chip Kelly’s staff at UCLA as the program’s director of leadership.

Niumatalolo, who was let go at the end of last season after 15 years as head coach in Annapolis, will serve as an advisor to the football staff and student-athletes in his new role with the Bruins.

The off-field role will be a new endeavor for Niumatalolo, who won 109 games and left Navy as the school’s all-time leader in victories. However, he went just 11–23 over his final three seasons with the school, which led to athletic director Chet Gladchuk to move in a different direction.

The move to bring Niumatalolo into the building is the latest in a series of coaching moves with the program this offseason. Kelly signed a contract extension in early March that ties him to the program through the 2027 season. 

UCLA has won 17 games over the last two seasons, including a 9–4 campaign last year that ended with a Sun Bowl loss to Pittsburgh.