The month following the regular season for the UCLA offensive staff has been eerily reminiscent of that unit’s recent performances: Nothing much is happening.
In the wake of a disappointing 4-8 campaign, coach Rick Neuheisel fired defensive coordinator Chuck Bullough and receivers coach Reggie Moore. Speculation abounded that offensive coordinator Norm Chow would also find his job on the chopping block.
But as of Monday, Chow was still on staff. In fact, he was still occupying his on-campus office that was rumored by many to have been cleaned out. But Chow’s lingering presence doesn’t necessarily mean that he won’t be relieved of his duties during the offseason.
“The offense is still a place I’m evaluating, and Norm as coordinator is in that category,” Neuheisel said in the teleconference following the firing of Bullough and Moore. “I’m just trying to figure exactly the best way to go.”
Chow, who was rumored to be departing for USC when Lane Kiffin took over as the Trojan coach, still has two years left on his contract. The 64-year-old coordinator has been at UCLA for three seasons, the most recent of which saw the Bruins install the pistol offense ““ a style never used by Chow in his almost 40 years of coaching ““ in an effort to bolster what had been mediocre offensive execution.
According to Neuheisel, things are “up in the air,” and he’s not referring to a UCLA passing attack that ranked 116th in the country in passing yards per game in 2010. That number was troubling for Chow, who made a name for himself as a groomer of quarterbacks and complex aerial assaults. With Moore’s release and the uncertainty with Chow, Neuheisel hasn’t ruled out involving himself more on that side of the ball; the head coach has experience coaching both quarterbacks and receivers.
Neuheisel also didn’t rule out keeping the current offensive staff while reassigning various duties. He also has to deal with finding a replacement for Bullough, who coached the Bruins’ defense the last two seasons.
With reports from Sam Strong, Bruin Sports senior staff.