UCLA Football's Jerry Neuheisel Elevated to Assistant Head Coach

Former Bruin quarterback will continue coaching tight ends.

LOS ANGELES – Jerry Neuheisel was promoted by UCLA head football coach DeShaun Foster Wednesday, adding the title of assistant head coach to his role as tight ends coach.

Neuheisel, a former quarterback for the Bruins, has coached seven years at his alma mater and eight overall. He completed his first season as tight ends coach in 2024. Neuheisel was UCLA's wide receivers coach across the three prior campaigns.

"Jerry has earned this opportunity," said Foster. "His love for UCLA runs deep, but his passion for developing men on and off the field is what makes him a great coach. He puts the work in day in and day out and I can't wait to see how he continues to grow."

Moliki Matavao starred in 2024 under Neuheisel's tutelage, leading the Bruins in receptions (41) and receiving yards (506). The senior twice eclipsed 100 yards through the air, helping his team to wins in both games. Matavao was presented the Jackie R. Robinson Award for athletic and academic balance at UCLA's year-end banquet.

It was wide receiver Logan Loya who broke out on Neuheisel's watch in 2023, reeling in 59 passes for 655 yards and five touchdowns – all team highs. J.Michael Sturdivant led all Bruin wide receivers with a yards-per-catch average of 16.6, tacking on four receiving scores of his own.

UCLA's 2022 offense put up more than 500 yards per game for the first time in school history, with Jake Bobo pacing Neuheisel's room. The Duke transfer's 57 catches and career highs of 817 receiving yards and seven touchdown grabs were tops on a team that saw five wideouts set career bests for receptions.

Neuheisel in 2021 made 247Sports' 30Under30 list as one of the nation's top young coaches. In Neuheisel's first season as wide receivers coach and fourth on staff, Kyle Philips led the Pac-12 with 10 touchdowns through the air. Philips' run, which began when Neuheisel returned to Westwood, finished with the wideout sitting at fourth on UCLA's all-time catch list with 163.

Neuheisel started his coaching career at Texas A&M, where he was as an offensive quality control coach alongside offensive coordinator Noel Mazzone and helped then-freshmen signal callers Kellen Mond and Nick Starkel put on record-setting displays in 2017.

NEUHEISEL'S COACHING EXPERIENCE

2017 – Quality Control (Offense) – Texas A&M

2018-2020 – Graduate Assistant, UCLA

2021-23 – Wide Receivers Coach, UCLA

2024 – Tight Ends Coach, UCLA

 

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