Chip Kelly to decide between UCLA and Florida
UCLA and Florida have emerged as the top two suitors for Chip Kelly, and a decision is near.
As he sits out a year working for ESPN, it’s been a foregone conclusion Chip Kelly will return to coaching next season. He’s immediately been on the list for any prominent job opening at the college level, but Florida and UCLA have emerged as Kelly’s top two options.
According to ESPN’s Mark Schlabach, Kelly met with UCLA officials in Los Angeles on Tuesday. He also met with officials from Florida on Sunday, and may have gone from a previous verbal agreement to actually signing a non-binding agreement to be the next Gators’ coach. Schlabach added Kelly isn’t expected to consider any other college openings. So Tennessee and Texas A&M fans can give up the dream of getting Kelly as their next coach.
Kelly is of course no stranger to the Pac-12, with a 46-7 record over four seasons at Oregon (2009-2012) before taking a job in the NFL with the Philadelphia Eagles. That seems to make UCLA a better fit, rather than signing on to compete against Nick Saban and the like in a much tougher SEC.
Sources: Chip verbally agreed to Florida before South Carolina game & Florida has been vetting dozens of assistant candidates.
— Darren Heitner (@DarrenHeitner) November 22, 2017
Chip signed an agreement with Florida on Sunday. Agreement includes window for Chip to back out of deal. Hence UCLA talks.
Reporting w/@biggamejames36
Filed to ESPN: Chip Kelly met with UCLA officials in LA on Tuesday. He is expected to decide between Florida and UCLA jobs in coming days. He is not expected to consider any other college openings
— Mark Schlabach (@Mark_Schlabach) November 22, 2017
With the Thanksgiving holiday on Thursday, Kelly’s decision between Florida and UCLA is likely to wait until next week. A late entry into the mix with a job opening could alter that, like, for example, Texas A&M once they officially dismiss Kevin Sumlin. But it seems Kelly has honed in on Gainesville or Los Angeles as his next coaching destination, and it would take something big to change his mind.
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College football is better with Kelly’s offensive mind and his against-the-grain approach to coaching. After five seasons out, Kelly is on the verge of coming back to where he belongs.