Fansided

UCLA coaching search: Chip Kelly and the candidates to replace Jim Mora

By Brad Berreman

Oct 11, 2014; Pasadena, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins fans with letters on their chests cheer against the Oregon Ducks at Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 11, 2014; Pasadena, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins fans with letters on their chests cheer against the Oregon Ducks at Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 3
Next
Mandatory Credit: David K Purdy/Getty Images
Mandatory Credit: David K Purdy/Getty Images /

2. Mike Gundy

Gundy is an Oklahoma State guy if there’s ever been one, dating back to his time playing quarterback at the school in the late 1980’s. He has had good success over now nearly 13 seasons as head coach at Oklahoma State too, with a 112-53 record. To put in perspective how long Gundy has been head coach at his alma mater, who was the man he replaced? Les Miles.

But things have seemed to reach a plateau under Gundy in Stillwater, with no conference titles since 2011 and only one major bowl appearance since then (or two, if you count the Cotton Bowl). Rival Oklahoma, on the other hand, is in the College Football Playoff conversation right now. Add in some notable conflict with Oklahoma State booster T.Boone Pickens in the past, and Gundy may be seeking a way to exit gracefully for an appealing new job.

On the surface, Gundy looks like an odd fit for UCLA. But the same would have been said about Mora, and that at least started out well before going off the rails the last two seasons. Winning is all that matters, and as long as Gundy is deemed able to do that with a move to California he may be the guy for the Bruins.

Home/College Football