Former UCLA coach Bob Toledo was hired by the University of New
Mexico as its assistant coach and offensive coordinator on
Wednesday.
Toledo, who was the Bruins’ coach from 1996-2002, will be
joining the staff of former UCLA defensive coordinator Rocky Long,
who has been the Lobos’ coach since December 1997.
“I’m excited to be in Albuquerque and coaching at
the University of New Mexico,” Toledo said in a press
conference Wednesday.
“I look forward to working with my good friend Rocky
(Long), who I trust and respect immensely. I’m anxious to get
back into coaching and working with the kids.”
Toledo had been out of college football for four years since he
was released by UCLA, and will begin his position with the Lobos
next month. When he was fired from the Bruin team in 2002, he was
given a contract buyout of $578,000, and an annual salary of
$153,000 for five years from UCLA.
The job at New Mexico will be Toledo’s fourth assistant
coaching position as he was the offensive coordinator at the
University of Oregon and Texas A&M prior to becoming the
offensive coordinator at UCLA in 1994.
“We’re excited as a program to be getting a coach
with the expertise and experience that Bob Toledo possesses,”
said Long.
“Bob brings added excitement and national recognition to
our program.”
During his time at UCLA, Toledo led the Bruins to a record of
49-32 while leading the Bruins to two Rose Bowl appearances,
including a 10-2 mark in 1998.
But it was the numerous disciplinary problems, and off-field
violations that eventually led to Toledo’s firing from
UCLA.
The problems initially started in 2000, when quarterback Cade
McNown and other members of the Bruin football team were involved
in a handicap parking scandal.
But the last straw was in 2002, in his last season with the
Bruins. That year, UCLA started 6-0, and running back DeShaun
Foster was considered a Heisman Trophy candidate.
But the Bruins lost five of their last six games, and Toledo was
fired before the Bruins’ bowl game in Las Vegas.
At New Mexico, Toledo will have a reversal of roles as he will
now be the assistant coach under Long, while it was the opposite
during the two coaches’ time together in Westwood.
Long, however, doesn’t think that will be much of a
problem.
“We have worked well together in the past and I look
forward to working with him again.”
Toledo was the third-longest tenured coach in Bruin history, and
led the Bruins to wins over Texas, Alabama, Michigan and Ohio
State.
During his time at UCLA he also had a record of 3-3 against the
Trojans.
Additionally, the Bruins had a school record 20-game winning
streak, and McNown was given the Johhny Unitas Golden arm, an award
annually given to the nation’s best quarterback.
As offensive coordinator at UNM, Toledo will be replacing Dan
Dodd, who had been the Lobos’ offensive coordinator since
2002, and is now expected to be reassigned.