Coaching Gig Rankings: UCLA Job Overrated?

Despite being in Los Angeles and in the Big Ten, this insider feels the Bruins coaching vacancy isn't all it's cut out to be.

UCLA's interim head coach Tim Skipper celebrates after a Bruins touchdown against Michigan State during the third quarter on Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025, at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing. | Nick King/Lansing State Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Over a month after firing second-year head coach DeShaun Foster, the UCLA Bruins are have become a darling in the college football landscape behind interim head coach Tim Skipper.

Skipper, a former Fresno State interim, completely turned a 0-3 Bruins team around, winning their last three games ahead of a FOX Big Noon Kickoff game against No. 2 Indiana.

While Skipper is making his case for a more permanent role in Westwood, UCLA brass is still searching for its next head coach. Despite being in Southern California and occupying a spot in the Big Ten, many don't view the UCLA coaching vacancy as a top gig, including CBS Sports' Shehan Jeyarajah.

Jeyarajah ranked every FBS coaching vacancy after Billy Napier departed from Florida, and he ranked UCLA sixth of the seven Power Four openings, behind Florida, Penn State, Arkansas, Oklahoma State and Virginia Tech, and ahead of Stanford.

Florida head coach Billy Napier greets fans during Gator Walk before an NCAA football game against Mississippi Stateat Steve Spurrier Field at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, FL on Saturday, October 18, 2025. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun] | Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Here's what he had to say about the gig:

"UCLA may be a Big Ten program, but the Bruins are a true bottom-feeder as currently constructed. When you hear talk about short-term cash infusion in the Big Ten, plenty of it is built around trying to save UCLA, which finds itself in a major financial hole. Consistent cross-country travel in the Big Ten and major focus on basketball takes away from the football team.

Jul 29, 2022; Los Angeles, CA, USA; A detailed view of UCLA Bruins helmet during Pac-12 Media Day at Novo Theater. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

"The Rose Bowl is a blessing and curse as images constantly go viral for lack of fan support. Recruiting in Los Angeles is a huge advantage, but the Bruins have not signed a top 10 player in California since 2019. This job is an uphill battle, but certainly one with intrigue." 

Oct 11, 2025; East Lansing, Michigan, USA; UCLA Bruins interim head coach Tim Skipper looks up at the video board in the fourth quarter at Spartan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brendan Mullin-Imagn Images | Brendan Mullin-Imagn Images

If coaches on the carousel feel the same way as Jeyarajah about UCLA's gig, maybe Skipper would be a good option to look at moving forward. He sure is ready.

Soon after Skipper was named Westwood's interim head coach, he expressed his desire to be a head coach in the future.

• "I'm one of those people [where], if I'm doing something, I want to get to the top," he said in his first media availability as UCLA's interim. "So, if that's the top of the mountain in this profession, I want to do that. Whatever job it is, I'm going full speed ahead. That's just my nature.

Oct 4, 2025; Pasadena, California, USA; UCLA Bruins interim head coach Tim Skipper (left) and new offensive coordinator Jerry Neuheisel (right) on the sideline during second half against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images | Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images

• "I actually experienced this last year, a full season. I enjoyed it. Wish you win some more games and things like that, but when you become a head coach, it's a lot less about the ball and more about the off-the-field stuff. So you either like it or you don't, and I rather enjoyed it. We're going to keep on building from that."

Despite coaching just 18 games overall as an interim coach over the last three seasons -- which is 18 more than DeShaun Foster had before being hired -- Skipper's resume speaks for itself. He has an 10-8 overall record; his first being a bowl game win and some of his latest coming against the likes of No. 7 Penn State, Michigan State and Maryland.

Sep 27, 2025; Evanston, Illinois, USA; UCLA Bruins interim head coach Tim Skipper during the second half at Northwestern Medicine Field at Martin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images | David Banks-Imagn Images

The culture and belief system he's built in such a short time at UCLA is undeniable. Skipper will almost certainly be a head coach sometime in the near future.

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