It is hard to rank UCLA's football head coaches since 2000 because each one has had their own problems and levels of success and failure. The rankings below are based on a number of things, such as the team's overall record, its best performance, its bowl game results, and their lasting impact on the program, which has changed over time.
Here is a list of the best to worst UCLA football head coaches since 2000:.
Note: DeShaun Foster is not on this list because he just finished his first season as head coach and it's too soon to judge his time going into his second season as the head coach of UCLA. Also, Jedd Fisch was only the interim head coach for two games and is not in these rankings.
1. Jim Mora (2012–2017)
Record: 46-30 (60.5% wins)
Jim Mora's time as coach is notable for a few essential reasons. He brought back some of the excitement and responsibility that had been missing from the program for years. He won 9 games in his first season and 10 games in his second season. In 2012, he won the Pac-12 South Division title. In 2013 and 2014, he also tied the school record for most wins in a single season with 10. Mora's teams were ranked in the top 25 during his first four seasons in Westwood, and he had a talent for finding NFL talent. During his time at UCLA, 25 players were picked in the NFL Draft. His first four years were the best for the program in the last twenty years, but his last two seasons saw a drop in success, winning only four and five wins. He was relieved of his duties as head coach after two straight disappointing seasons.
2. Chip Kelly (2018–2023)
Record: 35-34 (50.7% of games won)
Chip Kelly's ranking is not simple. His overall record is just above .500, but what people will remember about him is that he started slowly and finished strongly. He turned the program around after going 10-21 in his first three seasons. The Bruins made it to three straight bowls and won at least eight games in each of his last three seasons. This was the first time a UCLA coach had done this since Terry Donahue. Kelly's teams were known for their fast-paced offense, and he left the program with a strong base and a winning culture. Even though his time in charge ended suddenly, he made the program better and set it up for success in the future. His most significant criticism from UCLA fans was his lack of interest in high school recruiting and his heavy reliance on the transfer portal.
3. Karl Dorrell (2003–2007)
Record: 35 wins and 27 losses (.565 winning percentage)
Karl Dorrell did a good job as head coach, but nothing special. In 2005, he led the Bruins to a 10-2 record, which was a big deal. His teams were often good enough to win, and he was able to keep a good winning percentage. But his time as the Bruins ' head coach was also marked by inconsistency and a lack of big wins. He lost three of his four bowl games and struggled to beat USC. He didn't have the best seasons like Mora did, but he also didn't have the worst seasons like some of the other coaches on this list.
4. Bob Toledo (2000–2002)
Record at UCLA (since 2000): 20-15 (winning percentage of.571)
This ranking is only based on his record since 2000. People often remember Bob Toledo's time at UCLA for the two great seasons he had in 1997 and 1998, but his last few years weren't as good. He won at last six games in his last three seasons, but the program was a long way from the top of their back-to-back 10-win seasons in the late 90s. He had trouble keeping things going and was let go after a 7-5 season in 2002. His overall win percentage at UCLA is the best on this list, but his performance in the 2000s puts him lower.
5. Rick Neuheisel (2008–2011)
Record: 21-29 (winning percentage of .420)
Rick Neuheisel's time at UCLA was very disappointing. He was a former UCLA quarterback and was hired to bring back the "UCLA way" of football, but he lost more games than he won. He only had one winning season, which was in 2009 when he went 7-6. He couldn't consistently compete in the Pac-10/Pac-12 conference. His teams often had trouble with discipline and couldn't beat their main rivals. He won a division title in 2011, but his team was only 6-7 and only made it because USC was on probation.