D.J. McCarthy always wanted to be a Bruin; he has just taken a
slightly longer path to get here.
McCarthy comes to UCLA with an impressive resume as the
team’s new wide receivers coach, after spending the previous
six seasons at Central Florida and Nevada.
Having grown up in the L. A. area, the first-year coach was more
than excited to return to the West Coast.
“When a job opened up and (coach Karl Dorrell) asked me if
I was interested, I told him that my bags were already
packed,” McCarthy said.
McCarthy played his college ball at Washington, winning a
national championship in 1991, and also starred at Long Beach City
College beforehand.
Coming back to the Pac-10, he will have his hands full working
with the talent that comes along with a major football program.
“Top to bottom, the depth is the biggest
difference,” McCarthy said. “Usually in mid-majors,
after the first few guys you have a big dropoff with receivers
three, four and five, whereas here, we can go eight deep with guys
who can all make plays.”
McCarthy should have no problem developing the Bruins’
talented wide receiving unit, as he has had a great deal of success
in the past. At Central Florida in 2005, McCarthy coached two
All-Conference USA wideouts.
Even more impressive, at Nevada he coached Nate Burleson, who
led the nation in receptions in 2002. He also had three members of
the Wolf Pack drafted into the NFL during his four- year
tenure.
McCarthy looks to bring that same success here to Westwood.
“My goal everywhere I’ve been is for my position to
be the best in the conference and in the top five in the
nation,” McCarthy said.
As a native of Southern California, McCarthy feels UCLA is where
many young athletes want to come, something he hopes to exploit
during his time as the wide receivers coach.
“I can honestly say that every kid that grows up in
Southern California wants to come to UCLA,” McCarthy said.
“After going to junior college at Long Beach, coming to UCLA
was one of my choices.”
As he has been around football his whole life, McCarthy is very
grateful to still be able to have a hand in the sport he loves. Now
that he is back in Los Angeles, his dream job just got even
better.
“I don’t even consider this work,” McCarthy
said. “This is my joy, my passion.”