Hundley returns to coach at UCLA

UCLA football coach Rick Neuheisel announced on Monday the return of Tim Hundley to coach the Bruin secondary alongside Carnell Lake. Hundley, who has 18 years of coordinating experience, worked on Neuheisel’s staffs at Washington and Colorado and was an assistant coach at UCLA from 1990-95.

Neuheisel emphasized the importance of hiring someone with coordinating experience to help out both Lake and Chuck Bullough, who is in his first season as defensive coordinator.

“It’s a good fit,” Neuheisel said. “He brings a wealth of experience not only as a defensive coach but a guy with coordinating experience for Chuck. He’ll be valuable for Carnell too as he begins his career in the secondary.”

Hundley was assistant coach (defense) at Southern Methodist University this past season and worked as the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at the University of Texas at El Paso the previous four. He has had coaching stints at Oregon State and the University of Nevada, among other schools. Neuheisel’s decision was based both on his familiarity with Hundley as well as Hundley’s 32 years of coaching experience.

“Tim has great experience from the [coaches’] box,” Neuheisel said. “It’s critical. He has spent a long time in his career upstairs and knows how to give reliable info to the sideline. I wanted to make sure we had someone with reliable eyes upstairs.”

“It’s always a comforting factor when you know someone is very capable when hiring them.”

Hundley also has a reputation for his recruiting prowess, especially in Texas where he’s spent the last five seasons building relationships. However, Neuheisel plans to send Hundley to recruit in San Diego, which he described as “fertile.”

“Our emphasis is and always will be California,” Neuheisel said. “But that’s not to say we won’t take advantage of the relationships he has with high school coaches in Texas.”

Hundley has coached in 10 bowl games and was recognized by Scouts, Inc. in 2005 as one of five coordinators nationally with the “best head-coaching potential.”At Western Oregon State, Hundley was an All-American linebacker and a three-time All-Conference selection. He was inducted into the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Hall of Fame and earned a master’s in education from the University of Idaho in 1978.

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