Jerry Azzinaro, the embattled UCLA defensive coordinator and longtime Chip Kelly lieutenant, has resigned, in accordance with a number of studies, offering a possibility for the Bruins to improve within the one space during which they've persistently struggled the final 4 years underneath Kelly.
Azzinaro’s departure comes with UCLA making an attempt to finalize contract extension discussions with Kelly, who's on monitor to enter the final season of his deal Sunday when his reciprocal $9-million buyout expires. It was not believed that Kelly confronted any calls for about employees modifications as a part of an extension settlement.
UCLA completed 8-4 final season, propped up by a prolific offense, whereas its struggles got here primarily due to a protection that gave up 26.8 factors per sport, rating No. 74 nationally.
UCLA’s protection has been a nagging sore spot underneath Kelly after giving up a mean of 34.1 factors in 2018, 34.8 factors in 2019 and 30.7 factors in 2020, resulting in requires Azzinaro’s dismissal.
Kelly remained steadfastly loyal to Azzinaro, defending his outcomes on the sphere in addition to his extended silence; Azzinaro, who made $700,000 final season, didn't converse with native beat writers as soon as in his 4 seasons with the Bruins.
“I feel it’s his selection,” Kelly stated in November. “It’s the US of America, we’re not going to power anyone to do something, in order that’s his selection that he doesn’t wish to converse to the media.”
Final season, Azzinaro guided a protection that ranked No. 70 out of 130 groups nationally in yards allowed, giving up 384.4 per sport, and No. 107 in passing protection, giving up 260.2 yards per sport.
The protection’s power was in stopping the run, yielding simply 124.2 yards per sport on the bottom, No. 23 nationally.
Azzinaro, 63, has been by Kelly’s facet for greater than a decade after becoming a member of his first Oregon employees in 2009 as defensive position coach. He adopted Kelly to subsequent stops within the NFL with the Philadelphia Eagles and San Francisco 49ers earlier than accompanying him to Westwood earlier than the 2018 season.
Broadly praised for his work as a defensive position coach, Azzinaro has loved far much less success as a defensive coordinator. He had held the previous title in stops at American Worldwide, Massachusetts and Duke earlier than coming to UCLA.
Azzinaro’s transfer comes at a time of widespread turnover on Kelly’s employees. UCLA wants to seek out an offensive line coach after the departure of Justin Frye and a decent ends coach after the departure of Derek Sage, who additionally coached the Bruins’ particular groups earlier than leaving for Nevada.
The Bruins already employed Chad Kauha’aha’a to educate the defensive position and Ikaika Malloe to educate outdoors linebackers after the departures of Johnny Nansen and Jason Kaufusi.
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