UCLA Football: Bruins Hiring Eric Bieniemy to be New Offensive Coordinator and Associate HC

Bruins have chosen their next OC.

UCLA football is hiring former Kansas City Chiefs and Washington Commanders offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy to become their next offensive coordinator and associate head coach, via ESPN's Pete Thamel. Bieniemy is joining the Bruins on a two-year deal.

UCLA is finalizing a two-year deal to make Eric Bieniemy the school’s new offensive coordinator and associate head coach, ESPN sources tell me and @adamschefter. He’s the former offensive coordinator of the Commanders (2023), Chiefs (2018-22) and Colorado (2011-12). pic.twitter.com/qVYaVOoi1C

— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) February 25, 2024

Bienemy is now the biggest name on new UCLA football head coach DeShaun Foster's coaching staff heading into 2024. Bieniemy brings extensive experience as an NFL OC to this job, which will help Foster and the Bruins run an NFL-style offense.

Bieniemy is known for running the Kansas City Chiefs' offense from 2018-2022. Bieniemy was the Chiefs running backs coach from 2017-2023 before getting promoted to OC in 2018. 

Bieniemy was with the Chiefs during the development of superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes, running the Chiefs offense during both of Mahomes' NFL MVP-winning seasons. Bieniemy also helped the Chiefs win two Super Bowl championships. 

This is a huge hire for the Bruins and one that brings in a ton of credibility for the UCLA offense. One of the primary criticisms of the Bruins hiring DeShaun Foster was his lack of experience as an offensive coordinator or head coach at either the college football or NFL level. 

By bringing in Bieniemy as an OC and associate head coach, UCLA adds in someone who does not just have experience but has worked under one of the best in the business in, Andy Reid.

This hire also makes sense because Bieniemy has ties to UCLA. Like Foster, Bieniemy has a history with UCLA and was previously a running backs coach for the team. Bieniemy served as the Bruins' running backs coach from 2003-2005 and was also their recruiting coordinator in 2005.

If Bieniemy can have the kind of success he's had at the NFL level at UCLA, it will be exciting for the Bruins. It's surprising to see Bieniemy leave the NFL for college football, but a decision that will ideally come at the Bruins' benefit.