UCLA football seeks new leadership for 2023 season

LOS ANGELES — UCLA football coach Chip Kelly is surrounded by new names and faces after several roster additions and hires were made this offseason.

Ken Niumatalolo was Kelly’s most recent hire and was brought on as UCLA’s Director of Leadership. Niumatalolo spent the last 15 seasons as Navy’s head coach before being fired at the end of the 2022 season.

“It was awesome to bring Ken in,” Kelly said. “I know he had a lot of different opportunities … when he did become available, we had some discussions in terms of just getting him on staff.”

UCLA “developed a position” for Niumatalolo that will allow him to work with the players in an off-field role.

“He’s the foremost person who can teach leadership coming from the Naval Academy,” Kelly said. “I think leadership goes across a lot of different things. What a freshman has to do to lead is different from what a senior has to do to lead.”

The Bruins will need players to step up into leadership roles following the departure of experienced players such as Dorian Thompson-Robinson and Stephan Blaylock.

Junior wide receiver Titus Mokiao-Atimalala cited quarterback Ethan Garbers as someone whose leadership improved this season.

“He’s a veteran,” Mokiao-Atimalala said about the fourth-year quarterback. “He’s been around and he knows what he wants. And as a receiver, if I come to him and talk to him about certain looks, he can tell me what he wants and it makes our chemistry easier (to build).”

Garbers spent the past two seasons as the primary backup quarterback behind Thompson-Robinson.

Garbers has played in 18 games and completed 57 of 88 pass attempts for four touchdowns and four interceptions.

Center Duke Clemens has also stepped into a leadership role, following the departure of guards Jon Gaines II and Atonio Mafi.

While Clemens is still looking to improve as a player, he has made it a point to work with some of the younger players and host player-led meetings during the offseason.

“I just want to be another coach in the offensive line room and be on the same page with coach (Tim Drevno),” Clemens said Tuesday.

“He’s been a starter for so long,” Mokiao-Atimalala said of Clemens. “He’s holding things down for the offensive linemen.”

The Bruins’ defensive staff will see an overhaul again this season, including at its highest position with Kelly hiring D’Anton Lynn as UCLA’s defensive coordinator in February.

Kelly had heard from NFL coaches, including New England Patriots offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien and Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh, who each worked with and praised Lynn.

The 33-year-old son of former Chargers head coach Anthony Lynn had worked with O’Brien when he was the Houston Texans’ head coach. He recently coached the defensive backs and safeties as a member of Harbaugh’s staff in Baltimore.

Lynn was one of the first names Kelly pursued after learning that defensive coordinator Bill McGovern “wasn’t able to finish what we were doing here.” McGovern missed part of the 2022 season due to unspecified health issues and remains on staff as director of football administration.

“I think when you meet (Lynn), he’s smart and intelligent,” Kelly said. “He’s a very good teacher and he has a unique way about himself. … We are really excited about having him and I think he brings some fresh ideas and he’s transitioned in very well.”

NAVIGATING THE PORTAL

Defensive back Jelani Warren announced his decision to transfer from UCLA on Wednesday.

Warren spent four years with the Bruins and will enter the transfer portal as a graduate transfer with two years of eligibility remaining.

UCLA announced linemen Caleb Walker and Keanu Williams had officially enrolled Monday.

Walker was listed as a 6-foot-5, 295-pound offensive tackle for the College of the Sequoias. Williams was listed as a 6-foot-4, 300-pound defensive tackle from the University of Oregon.