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UCLA Football: Updates on Chip Kelly’s coaching staff

By Mike Regalado

WESTWOOD, CA - NOVEMBER 27: UCLA Director of Athletics Dan Guerrero (L) and Chip Kelly hold up a jersey during a press conference introducing Kelly as the new UCLA Football head coach on November 27, 2017 in Westwood, California. (Photo by Josh Lefkowitz/Getty Images)
WESTWOOD, CA - NOVEMBER 27: UCLA Director of Athletics Dan Guerrero (L) and Chip Kelly hold up a jersey during a press conference introducing Kelly as the new UCLA Football head coach on November 27, 2017 in Westwood, California. (Photo by Josh Lefkowitz/Getty Images) /
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New UCLA football coach Chip Kelly continues to put his coaching staff together and this latest update has a crucial piece from the Jim Mora era not being retained.

The UCLA football coaching staff will look very different next season, but there will be some familiar faces. As we reported on last week, new Bruin big man Chip Kelly is already hard at work putting his new staff together.

RELATED: Chip Kelly begins assembling his staff

Last week we got word that three assistants will stay with the offense as DeShaun Foster, Jimmie Dougherty and Hank Fraley will retain their positions.

All three were brought in with Offensive Coordinator Jedd Fisch to overhaul the offense and did a miraculous job in 2017. As far as Fisch is concerned, it was thought that he could stay on as OC, but that might not happen if he cannot call plays.

If Fisch is out, Kelly will also need to fill the QB coaching position. A name being floated around is current Ohio State co-offensive coordinator and QB coach Ryan Day who could be UCLA’s next QB coach and OC.

How Chip Kelly’s staff is shaping up…

  • OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR: vacant/unannounced
  • Quarterbacks: vacant/unannounced
  • Running Backs: DeShaun Foster
  • Wide Recievers: Jimmie Dougherty
  • Tight Ends: vacant/unannounced
  • Offensive Line: Hank Fraley
  • DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Jerry Azzinaro
  • Defensive Line: vacant/unannounced
  • Linebackers: Don Pellum
  • Defensive Backs: vacant/unannounced
  • Special Teams: vacant/unannounced

Related Story: Kelly hired Don Pellum as LB Coach

Kelly already went to work on his defense, hiring former assistant Jerry Azzinaro who worked with Kelly at Oregon nd In then NFL as his defenisve line coach.

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Over the weekend we also got word that another former Kelly assistant, Don Pellum, will be taking over the linebackers, ousting former LB/Special Teams Coach Scott White. With that in mind, Kelly will also be in the hunt for a special teams coach.

Probably one of the the biggest loses is that of former defensive backs coach Demetrice Martin who developed one of the best secondaries in the Pac-12 the last few seasons. He was also a top notch recruiter, who brought in several top prospects to Westwood.

It has also been reported that last season’s defensive line coach, Angus McClure, could also stay on, but it is unknown in what capacity. McClure could continue with the D-line, but has also worked with other position groups and could fill the vacant TE coaching spot. That position was held by Rip Scherer last season.

Next: With a change of staff comes a change of heart

With Martin out, keeping McClure, who was the team’s recruiting coordinator last season is vital. If McClure can stay on, UCLA’s recruiting class has a better chance of staying together.