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UCLA Hires Neuheisel

Two breaking reports.  Both ProFootballTalk, and Hacksaw on 570, are saying that UCLA has hired Neuheisel.  From PFT:

Adam Schefter of NFL Network reports that UCLA will be hiring Ravens offensive coordinator Rick Neuheisel as its next head coach.

Neuheisel, a former UCLA quarterback, previously was the head coach at Colorado and at Washington.  He was fired by Washington based on allegations of participation in a March Madness betting pool, but a lawsuit resulted in a $4.5 million settlement from the NCAA and the University of Washington.

Neuheisel joined the Ravens in 2005 as quarterbacks coach.  He became the offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach after Jim Fassel was fired.  Head coach Brian Billick, however, called the plays.

Before becoming the head coach at Colorado in 1995, Neuheisel spent seven seasons as an assistant at UCLA.  He was the head coach at Washington from 1999 through 2002.

UPDATE: Now it's official. Here is from the official release: Rick Neuheisel Named UCLA Head Football Coach

Former Bruin owns record of 66-30 as head coach

Dec. 29, 2007

Rick Neuheisel, who quarterbacked UCLA to victory in the 1984 Rose Bowl and who compiled a record of 66-30 as a collegiate head coach, has been named his alma mater's 16th head football coach, Bruin athletic director Dan Guerrero announced today.

The energetic and personable Neuheisel returns to the collegiate ranks after spending the past three seasons in the NFL. In his eight years as a college head coach at the University of Colorado and the University of Washington, he fashioned a record of 66-30, winning at least 10 games on three occasions and finishing in the Top 10 on three occasions, and led his teams to seven bowl games. His winning percentage of .688 places him among the top 20 active coaches with at least five years in the Football Bowl Subdivision. He was also recognized as one of the nation's top recruiters during his college coaching days.

"Rick has enjoyed great success throughout his career and we believe he is the coach who can take our program to the next level," said Guerrero. "His teams at Colorado and Washington continually challenged for conference championships and national rankings and that is what we are looking to do at UCLA.

"Rick is an outstanding coach and recruiter. He is outgoing and personable and can motivate our players, fans and supporters. We believe he is well equipped to lead the program and attain the success all Bruin fans wish to achieve."

"I know there are some issues in Rick's past that concern our constituency. We have discussed those at length with Rick and have investigated those issues with the NCAA. It has been at least five years and, in some cases, more than 10 years since the incidents occurred. We believe Rick has learned from those incidents and that he is more mature and experienced in the areas of compliance."

"I am thrilled to be returning to my alma mater as its head coach," said Neuheisel. "UCLA is a special place and I want to thank Dan Guerrero and Chancellor (Gene) Block for the opportunity to come home. We are going to build a program our supporters will be proud of, both on and off the field. I can't wait to get started. I made some mistakes earlier in my career and I take responsibility for those mistakes. I have learned from that experience and I would never do anything that would reflect negatively on UCLA."

UPDATE II: Contract details for Neu and a blurb on DeWayne Walker from Dohn:

Rick Neuheisel's contract is for five years, at $1.25 million per year with the chance to earn another $500,000 in bonuses annually. Also, Neuheisel called defensive coordinator DeWayne Walker was "my No. 1 recruit." He already left several messages for Walker, but the two are yet to talk.

GO BRUINS.

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of BruinsNation's (BN) editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of BN's editors.

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