Karl Dorrell made his first public statement since being
introduced as UCLA football head coach a bold one.
“We have one of the best staffs in the Pac-10,” he
said Monday.
Since being hired in December as Bob Toledo’s replacement,
Dorrell has been busy the last couple months hiring assistant
coaches. He completed the task Sunday, bringing on
outside-linebackers and nickel-backs coach Brian Schneider.
“We have a good balance of young guys who are very
energetic and will bring the spark alive in our program and others
who have enough experience where they’ve been through
situations with running a program,” Dorrell, 39, said.
“The (players) come first. We’re working for them.
The coaches have to be in their corner. We’re
teachers.”
One of Dorrell’s notable choices is running-backs coach
Eric Bieniemy, who has developed a reputation of being an
up-and-coming coach and recruiter. The 33-year-old from Colorado
also happens to have multiple misdemeanor convictions on his
record.
Dorrell said he and athletic director Dan Guerrero knew of
Bieniemy’s background before he was hired to coach a team
that has had many off-field troubles in the past.
“(Bieniemy) had more positives than negatives,”
Dorrell said.
Just as UCLA has done in the past, it will not have a coach that
specializes on special teams. Bieniemy will lead the kickoff
coverage and return teams while Schneider will handle the punt
coverage and return teams.
As for Dorrell, who has no prior head coaching experience, he
said that he would be good with the media, hinting at the type of
coach he will become.
“I’m who I am. I don’t try to hide anything. I
don’t pull any punches. I tell it like it is. Am I going to
tap dance for you? No. I am a man of integrity.”
Ңbull;Ӣbull;Ӣbull;
Redshirt freshman tailback Jason Harrison underwent a second
surgery on his knee last week. He had damaged his anterior cruciate
ligament returning a kickoff in the Las Vegas Bowl on Christmas
Day. … UCLA has received a verbal commitment from Torrance Bishop
Montgomery tight end/fullback/ linebacker Jimmy Stephens. National
letter of intent signing day is Wednesday.