Chip Kelly knows he can’t lean on his past under new UCLA contract

The final time Chip Kelly stood in entrance of a microphone and answered questions on his UCLA soccer program, it was late December, and the Bruins had been in the future away from enjoying North Carolina State within the Vacation Bowl.

Kelly, who had led UCLA to its first profitable season since 2015, nonetheless didn’t know if he can be again for a fifth season, even after an 8-4 marketing campaign that included a 62-33 demolition of rival USC on the Coliseum. The belief was that the Vacation Bowl can be quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson’s final school recreation, and there was actually an opportunity that star operating again Zach Charbonnet can be becoming a member of him within the NFL draft.

In fact, the bowl recreation can be canceled because of points with COVID-19 throughout the UCLA program, resulting in some delicate controversy. However finally, the Bruins had been stripped of a serious alternative to place an exclamation level on a 2021 season that felt restorative to some UCLA followers however nonetheless considerably missing to others.

UCLA athletic director Martin Jarmond clearly determined it was adequate, asserting in January that Kelly and the college had agreed to a four-year contract extension that might pay him $22 million throughout that interval (per yr, that might be lower than the $5.6 million he was paid in 2021).

Kelly stepped again in entrance of reporters as soon as once more Thursday morning earlier than UCLA’s second spring follow, and, in his thoughts, not a lot had modified since he and the college renewed their dedication to one another.

“I come to work day by day, so my day hasn’t modified since I’ve been right here,” he stated. “I got here right here to provide each effort I can to be part of this nice college and within the nice neighborhood. Simply excited to be right here.”

Evidently, Kelly wasn’t the one Bruin who needed to stay in Westwood. Thompson-Robinson determined to return again for a fifth season, utilizing his additional yr of eligibility as a result of pandemic, regardless of Kelly having gathered constructive suggestions from the NFL.

“We needed him again within the worst manner, however I can’t inform him for egocentric causes, ‘You shouldn’t go,’ ” Kelly stated. “The knowledge we had, he would have been a very draftable man and had a possibility to make a workforce this yr.”

Thompson-Robinson’s shocking turnabout is one of the best purpose to assume UCLA can take the following step, which might be profitable the workforce’s first Pac-12 South division title since 2012.

“He has a ton of reps below his belt that he has in his catalog at the back of his mind,” Kelly stated. “Like, I’ve been on this state of affairs earlier than and that is what occurred. He’s displayed nice management with all of the youthful guys. To have the quarterback actually be a frontrunner and coming again for Yr 5 has actually been large for us.”

Charbonnet, who rushed for 1,137 yards and 13 touchdowns, additionally bucked the development of operating backs going professional as quickly as they’re eligible and is again for extra.

However not all the things has stayed the identical. Kelly determined to fireside veteran defensive coordinator Jerry Azzinaro to enhance a unit that completed seventieth nationally in whole protection and 107th in opposition to the go.

To discover a substitute, Kelly leaned on his previous relationships, hiring Invoice McGovern, who coached linebackers below Kelly with the Philadelphia Eagles. The Bruins overhauled a lot of the defensive assistants, hiring UCLA alum Ken Norton Jr. as inside linebackers coach, Ikaika Malloe as exterior linebackers coach and former USC assistant Chad Kauha’aha’a as line of defense coach.

“I believe all these guys, with Invoice and Ken Norton Jr., they create huge expertise within the Nationwide Soccer League and a few of the new issues happening in that league which might be trickling down to varsity soccer, after which mixing it with what we do,” Kelly stated. “So we’re not throwing the child out with the bathwater.”

Kelly’s resolution to alter up his defensive workers was a positive signal that the Bruins need greater than 8-4.

“You really gotta construct momentum day by day,” he stated. “We’re in a society now the place what you probably did yesterday actually doesn’t matter.”