Stanford HC Troy Taylor Reportedly A Target For UCLA Job Opening

Stanford head coach Troy Taylor is viewed as a target for UCLA's head coaching opening

Stanford fans have been loving Troy Taylor through his first year on the job in Palo Alto, as the former Sacramento State head coach appears to have the program headed in the right direction.

While the on-field product is still a work in progress due to the fact that the team lost nearly every player in the two-deep after 2022, he has been recruiting well, has a great offensive mind, and the program has also shown a willingness to play the NIL/transfer portal game. Something that those around college football have taken notice of, as according to a report by The Athletic's Bruce Feldman, UCLA is interested in hiring Taylor to replace Chip Kelly, who recently left for the Ohio State offensive coordinator job.

Stanford head coach Troy Taylor  / John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports

Taylor was included with names like Minnesota's P.J. Fleck, UNLV's Barry Odom, former UCLA running backs coach DeShaun Foster, and Nebraska defensive coordinator Tonny White. 

"Jarmond [UCLA's AD] also has some interest in Stanford’s Troy Taylor. The 55-year-old two-time Big Sky Conference Coach of the Year had a rough debut season with the Cardinal, going 3-9. That included a 42-7 home loss to UCLA. But he is a good offensive coach and did an impressive job with the Sacramento State Hornets, posting a 30-8 record," wrote Feldman.

While being in Los Angeles may be appealing to those with ties, it is an extremely tough job. Kelly's recruiting efforts were questionable at best, fans haven't been supporting the program, boosters were rubbed the wrong way by Kelly, and as reported by Feldman Kelly had gotten his assistant's two-year extensions which means they will more than likely have to be kept around. 

When Taylor first took the Stanford job, he said it was a "dream" and a job that he "coveted" and hopes to be his final destination as a coach. This will be a true test of that if UCLA comes after him, but based on things Taylor has said in the past, it would seem as if there would be more interest from the Bruins' side of things.

Stanford is set to join the ACC in 2024, and put together a very strong recruiting class that features quarterback of the future, Elijah Brown out of Mater Dei.