UCLA Hires Chip Kelly; Nebraska Fires Mike Riley

November 25, 2017 by Dave Congrove

Two coaching changes announced on Saturday (November 25) were not at all unexpected as UCLA quickly closed the deal on Chip Kelly as its new head coach, and Nebraska wasted no time in parting ways with Mike Riley.

Kelly replaces Jim Mora who was fired the Sunday after a 28-23 loss to USC. The Bruins became bowl eligible with a 30-27 win over California on Friday with offensive coordinator Jedd Fisch serving as interim head coach.

Kelly was 46-7 in 4 seasons at Oregon, reaching BCS bowls each season and losing 22-19 to Auburn in the 2010 season BCS national title game. He was 33-3 in PAC-10/PAC-12 games, as opposed to Mora's 28-26 mark. Kelly left Oregon to become head coach of the NFL's Philadelphia Eagles from 2013-2015, and the San Francisco 49ers in 2016. He was 26-22  with Philly, 2-14 with the '49ers.

Nebraska fired Mike Riley on Saturday after the 'Huskers concluded a 4-8 campaign with a 56-14 loss at home to Iowa in game that was tied 14-apeiece at the half. Riley was 19-19 overall in three seasons in Lincoln, and 12-14 in the Big Ten.

See: Coaching Changes