Big Ten Powerhouse Fires Head Coach After 15 Games

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Hugh Green | Last updated Sep 14, 2025 1:24 PM ET

The UCLA Bruins have not had the start to their 2025 college football season that they had hoped for. UCLA started this year 0-3 with losses to the Utah Utes, UNLV Rebels and New Mexico Lobos. With quarterback Nico Iamaleava joining the Bruins before the year, head coach DeShaun Foster and UCLA fans hoped for a big season.

Foster began his collegiate coaching career last season when he joined the Bruins. He went 5-7 in his first year at UCLA and was given high expectations from people around college football this season.

On Sunday, after UCLA's latest loss, the school made a final decision on Foster's career with the Bruins.

UCLA has fired Foster after just 15 games as head coach, according to On3's Pete Nakos. He also reports that Tim Skipper, who was the Fresno State Bulldogs' interim coach last season, will take over as the interim coach for the Bruins.

"I want to extend my sincere appreciation to DeShaun for his contributions to UCLA Football over the course of many years, first as a Hall of Fame student-athlete, then as an assistant coach and finally as head coach," said UCLA athletic director Martin Jarmond.

Foster played running back for UCLA during his college career from 1998 to 2001, where he ran for over 3,000 yards and scored 43 total touchdowns.

"He was named to this role at a challenging time of year, on the cusp of a move to a new conference, and he embraced it, putting his heart into moving the program forward. His legacy and love for this university are firmly established. He is a Bruin for life, and we wish him, his wife, Charity, and their family the best."

According to On3, UCLA will have to pay Foster over $7 million due to the buyout clause in his contract. The school signed Foster to a five-year, $15 million contract in February 2024.

With this short leash for Foster from the UCLA higher-ups, it will be interesting to see the direction the Bruins go next.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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