Not a week after we wrote about how Jim Mora is staying at UCLA after fending off rumors of him leaving for another college football program, rumblings have started about him possibly leaving for the NFL. According to a report on NFL Network from Ian Rapoport, Mora is a candidate to replace Jim Harbaugh as the San Fransicso 49rs Head Coach.
… I’m very happy at UCLA… Those rumors are not coming from me… I’m not going anywhere…
Mora agreed to a 6 year contract extension (thru 2019) last December that helped prevent him from being poached by the University of Washington (a position that was later filled by Chris Peterson). However, the annual coaching carosel has begun and it is inevitable for successful coaches to avoid speculation of what might be next.
Bruin fans should still feel confident that Mora will remain in Westwood for at least a couple more years. Mora was asked about the perpetual coaching speculation just last week on AM570’s PMS show and he said unequivocally: “I’m very happy at UCLA… Those rumors are not coming from me… I’m not going anywhere.” Those sentiments were echoed a week before by Defensive Coordinator Jeff Ulbrich, and AD Dan Guererro also noted that if you don’t have other teams trying to steal your coaches then those coaches probably aren’t doing a very good job.
Additionally, Mora has made a comfortable home in Los Angeles and his family has dug in some area roots (his daughter goes to a local “crosstown” $chool and the Mora Count on Me Charity has grown in LA). None of these factors guarantee Mora will stay as the Bruins head coach in perpetuity, but Bruin fans can probably “Count On Mora” for another year or two at least.