Surviving signing day without a coach: How UCLA football stayed afloat
Story by
Surviving signing day without a coach: How UCLA football stayed afloat
Jordan Mendoza, USA TODAY·USA TODAY Sports
·
3 min read
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Firing a coach in-season isn't ideal — for many reasons. It means your season has gone south and likely your recruiting class with it. How do you retain commits and continue to recruit with so much uncertainty?
TheNittany Lionsstill have no coachafter firing James Franklin in mid-October. And so when the early signing period opened Wednesday, Dec. 3, Penn State added just two players — putting their class at 150th nationally per 247Sports rankings. Right next to South Dakota State and Princeton.
UCLA fired coachDeshaun Foster in September— just three games into the season — and went the rest of the regular season without a permanent coach. Despite uncertainty beyond 2025, theBruinsstayed afloat in recruiting. UCLA was able to keep players committed, and opened the early signing period with theNo. 71-ranked class. Modest, but not bad for a team whose new coach will be coaching another team this weekend.
UCLA willhire James Madison coach Bob Chesney, with a deal expected after the Sun Belt championship game on Friday, Dec. 5. But Chesney hasn't done any official work for the Bruins yet, so how did the Bruins keep recruiting momentum?
Whitehaven football player Cory House Jr. takes off his jacket as he reveals he will be signing to Michigan State University during the early signing day ceremony at Whitehaven High School in Memphis, Tenn., on Dec. 3, 2025.
(Chris Day, The Commercial Appeal via USA TODAY NETWORK)
Former Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (R) shows his son and Brophy senior Devin Fitzgerald how to tie a tie prior to an early signing day at Brophy Prep High School in Phoenix, Ariz. on Dec. 3, 2025.
(Patrick Breen, Arizona Republic via USA TODAY NETWORK)
Bolles guard JJ Sparks pulls on a Miami cap during NCAA early signing day events for football on Dec. 3, 2025 in Jacksonville, Fla.
(Clayton Freeman, Florida Times-Union via USA TODAY NETWORK)
The Clemson orange and purple shoes of Bolles wide receiver Naeem Burroughs are pictured during NCAA early signing day events for football on Dec. 3, 2025 in Jacksonville, Fla.
(Clayton Freeman, Florida Times-Union via USA TODAY NETWORK)
Whitehaven football player Christopher Talley takes off his jacket as he reveals he will be signing to West Virginia University during the early signing day ceremony at Whitehaven High School in Memphis, Tenn., on December 3, 2025.
(Chris Day, The Commercial Appeal via USA TODAY NETWORK)
East Robertson senior Zach Groves hugs family and friends during his signing day ceremony Dec. 3, 2025 in Cross Plains, Tenn. Groves signed with Tennessee football.
(George Robinson, The Tennessean via USA TODAY NETWORK)
Whitehaven football players Christopher Talley, Jaden Thomas, Cameron Jackson and Cory House Jr. laugh and talk with each other after they announced where they were signing during the early signing day ceremony at Whitehaven High School in Memphis, Tenn., on Dec. 3, 2025.
(Chris Day, The Commercial Appeal via USA TODAY NETWORK)
Bolles tight end Corbyn Fordham pulls on a Florida State cap during NCAA early signing day events for football on Dec. 3, 2025 in Jacksonville, Fla.
(Clayton Freeman, Florida Times-Union via USA TODAY NETWORK)
With family members, coaches and school administrators present, Crest football's Nari Hickman signed a National Letter of Intent on Dec. 3, 2025 to play college football at Gardner-Webb in Shelby, NC.
(Joe L. Hughes II, Gaston Gazette via USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
Bolles safety Simeon Caldwell smiles after pulling on an Ohio State cap during NCAA early signing day events for football on Dec. 3, 2025 in Jacksonville, Fla.
(Clayton Freeman, Florida Times-Union via USA TODAY NETWORK)
Brian and Eileen McMorris pose with Daniel McMorris during signing day ceremonies at Norman North High School in Norman, Okla. on Wednesday Dec. 3, 2025.
(SARAH PHIPPS, THE OKLAHOMAN via USA TODAY NETWORK)
Knoxville Catholic football player Tyreek King signs with University of Tennessee, at Knoxville Catholic High School in West Knoxville, Tenn. on Dec. 3, 2025.
(Caitie McMekin, News Sentinel via USA TODAY NETWORK)
Knoxville Catholic football player Chaz Smith signs with Notre Dame, at Knoxville Catholic High School in West Knoxville, Tenn. on Dec. 3, 2025.
(Caitie McMekin, News Sentinel via USA TODAY NETWORK)
Knoxville Catholic football player Gavin Jones signs with Brown University, at Knoxville Catholic High School in West Knoxville, Tenn. on Dec. 3, 2025.
(Caitie McMekin, News Sentinel via USA TODAY NETWORK)
Pine Forest football standout Demetress Mosley signs with South Alabama while his mom, Keisha Grandison, looks on during a ceremony at the high school on Dec. 3, 2025 in Pensacola, Fla.
(Tony Giberson, Pensacola News Journal via USA TODAY NETWORK)
Brophy senior football players Devin Fitzgerald (L-R) Deshawn Krein, James Pike, Daylen Sharper and Case Vanden Bosch sit at their tables prior to officially signing their letters of intent during early signing day at Brophy Prep High School in Phoenix, Ariz. on Dec. 3, 2025.
(Patrick Breen, The Republic via USA TODAY NETWORK)
1/16
Sign, Seal, Deliver: Top recruits commit during football signing day
Whitehaven football player Cory House Jr. takes off his jacket as he reveals he will be signing to Michigan State University during the early signing day ceremony at Whitehaven High School in Memphis, Tenn., on Dec. 3, 2025.
(Chris Day, The Commercial Appeal via USA TODAY NETWORK)
1/16
Sign, Seal, Deliver: Top recruits commit during football signing day
Whitehaven football player Cory House Jr. takes off his jacket as he reveals he will be signing to Michigan State University during the early signing day ceremony at Whitehaven High School in Memphis, Tenn., on Dec. 3, 2025.
(Chris Day, The Commercial Appeal via USA TODAY NETWORK)
2/16
Sign, Seal, Deliver: Top recruits commit during football signing day
Former Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (R) shows his son and Brophy senior Devin Fitzgerald how to tie a tie prior to an early signing day at Brophy Prep High School in Phoenix, Ariz. on Dec. 3, 2025.
(Patrick Breen, Arizona Republic via USA TODAY NETWORK)
3/16
Sign, Seal, Deliver: Top recruits commit during football signing day
Bolles guard JJ Sparks pulls on a Miami cap during NCAA early signing day events for football on Dec. 3, 2025 in Jacksonville, Fla.
(Clayton Freeman, Florida Times-Union via USA TODAY NETWORK)
4/16
Sign, Seal, Deliver: Top recruits commit during football signing day
The Clemson orange and purple shoes of Bolles wide receiver Naeem Burroughs are pictured during NCAA early signing day events for football on Dec. 3, 2025 in Jacksonville, Fla.
(Clayton Freeman, Florida Times-Union via USA TODAY NETWORK)
5/16
Sign, Seal, Deliver: Top recruits commit during football signing day
Whitehaven football player Christopher Talley takes off his jacket as he reveals he will be signing to West Virginia University during the early signing day ceremony at Whitehaven High School in Memphis, Tenn., on December 3, 2025.
(Chris Day, The Commercial Appeal via USA TODAY NETWORK)
6/16
Sign, Seal, Deliver: Top recruits commit during football signing day
East Robertson senior Zach Groves hugs family and friends during his signing day ceremony Dec. 3, 2025 in Cross Plains, Tenn. Groves signed with Tennessee football.
(George Robinson, The Tennessean via USA TODAY NETWORK)
7/16
Sign, Seal, Deliver: Top recruits commit during football signing day
Whitehaven football players Christopher Talley, Jaden Thomas, Cameron Jackson and Cory House Jr. laugh and talk with each other after they announced where they were signing during the early signing day ceremony at Whitehaven High School in Memphis, Tenn., on Dec. 3, 2025.
(Chris Day, The Commercial Appeal via USA TODAY NETWORK)
8/16
Sign, Seal, Deliver: Top recruits commit during football signing day
Bolles tight end Corbyn Fordham pulls on a Florida State cap during NCAA early signing day events for football on Dec. 3, 2025 in Jacksonville, Fla.
(Clayton Freeman, Florida Times-Union via USA TODAY NETWORK)
9/16
Sign, Seal, Deliver: Top recruits commit during football signing day
With family members, coaches and school administrators present, Crest football's Nari Hickman signed a National Letter of Intent on Dec. 3, 2025 to play college football at Gardner-Webb in Shelby, NC.
(Joe L. Hughes II, Gaston Gazette via USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
10/16
Sign, Seal, Deliver: Top recruits commit during football signing day
Bolles safety Simeon Caldwell smiles after pulling on an Ohio State cap during NCAA early signing day events for football on Dec. 3, 2025 in Jacksonville, Fla.
(Clayton Freeman, Florida Times-Union via USA TODAY NETWORK)
11/16
Sign, Seal, Deliver: Top recruits commit during football signing day
Brian and Eileen McMorris pose with Daniel McMorris during signing day ceremonies at Norman North High School in Norman, Okla. on Wednesday Dec. 3, 2025.
(SARAH PHIPPS, THE OKLAHOMAN via USA TODAY NETWORK)
12/16
Sign, Seal, Deliver: Top recruits commit during football signing day
Knoxville Catholic football player Tyreek King signs with University of Tennessee, at Knoxville Catholic High School in West Knoxville, Tenn. on Dec. 3, 2025.
(Caitie McMekin, News Sentinel via USA TODAY NETWORK)
13/16
Sign, Seal, Deliver: Top recruits commit during football signing day
Knoxville Catholic football player Chaz Smith signs with Notre Dame, at Knoxville Catholic High School in West Knoxville, Tenn. on Dec. 3, 2025.
(Caitie McMekin, News Sentinel via USA TODAY NETWORK)
14/16
Sign, Seal, Deliver: Top recruits commit during football signing day
Knoxville Catholic football player Gavin Jones signs with Brown University, at Knoxville Catholic High School in West Knoxville, Tenn. on Dec. 3, 2025.
(Caitie McMekin, News Sentinel via USA TODAY NETWORK)
15/16
Sign, Seal, Deliver: Top recruits commit during football signing day
Pine Forest football standout Demetress Mosley signs with South Alabama while his mom, Keisha Grandison, looks on during a ceremony at the high school on Dec. 3, 2025 in Pensacola, Fla.
(Tony Giberson, Pensacola News Journal via USA TODAY NETWORK)
16/16
Sign, Seal, Deliver: Top recruits commit during football signing day
Brophy senior football players Devin Fitzgerald (L-R) Deshawn Krein, James Pike, Daylen Sharper and Case Vanden Bosch sit at their tables prior to officially signing their letters of intent during early signing day at Brophy Prep High School in Phoenix, Ariz. on Dec. 3, 2025.
(Patrick Breen, The Republic via USA TODAY NETWORK)
That's where general manager Khary Darlington comes in. He and his staff and assistant coaches continued to hit the recruiting trails even though they didn't know who the next coach would be — or if they'd be retained.
The motto with the support staff was "straighten your back and let's get out there and do the job." Even through the doubt about UCLA's future, Darlington said the staff fed off the momentum of each other and fully bought into the vision it was trying to create. It was the extra boost they needed to keep forging ahead.
"Having the conversations after the coaching change, I don't know if I can clearly articulate how difficult some of these conversations were," Darlington told reporters Dec. 3.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
There were players that re-opened their recruitment following Foster's departure, and Darlington said some players still committed wanted to see what their options were. He said rather than "trying to handcuff people and not acknowledging what their experience is," Darlington and his staff took the approach of honesty and giving recruits space to explore every scenario. Ultimately, he believes that paid off.
"Rather than convincing people not to waiver, we encourage them and respected them. We encourage them to go through their process and told them that we will respect whatever that process was," he said. "I think that is what I guess you could say what our secret sauce was."
As a result, UCLA ended the first day of the early signing period with 12 players signed, and a few more expected in the coming days.
Not having a coach did hurt the Bruins though. Two of their top recruits, four-stars Micah Smith (Illinois) and Carter Gooden (Tennessee), flipped. Still, 12 players isn't too bad.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
That doesn't include four-star defensive lineman Anthony Jones from Irvine, California. Jones was one of the several players who de-committed after Foster was fired. He committed back to the Bruins in November and intends on signing his national letter of intent in February.
Darlington said "there was a lot of appreciation" within the staff for pulling Wednesday off. It was an emotionally taxing adventure, but there's belief UCLA is set up well for its next regime.
Not something every under-construction team can say.
"Just the mere fact that we were able to land the amount of players that we have landed, have our staff be as motivated as they were throughout the entire process and finish strong the way that we did is encouraging," Darlington said.
