UCLA Football: Bruins Hire New Defensive Line Coach From Oregon
The UCLA Bruins decided to keep Chip Kelly around for one more season, but that was followed by the exodus of coaches on the staff. The biggest loss was defensive coordinator D'Anton Lynn, who left to coach at USC.
Naturally, losing defensive coaches is never a good thing, especially because Lynn turned the Bruins' defense into a powerhouse. Lynn leaving also meant that a new defensive staff would need to be put in place.
Chip Kelly is doing so right now, as he prepares the team for their entrance into the Big Ten conference.
UCLA officially announced that Tony Washington Jr. will serve as the defensive line and outside linebackers coach. Washington has experience coaching both positions for Oregon.
Washington now joins a defensive staff led by Ikaika Malloe, who served as interim DC for the LA Bowl. Kelly decided to bring Malloe on fully into the role, and he will now be joined by Washington.
The Bruin's defense last year was a top-10 unit, and the hope is they can retain that status in 2024. UCLA will certainly need to step its game up if they are going to hang with Big Ten teams like Michigan, who just won the CFP Championship.
Having the right defensive staff can go a long way in allowing the team to retain its toughness for the new season.
