UCLA Football: Ethan Garbers Reflects On New HC DeShaun Foster

The UCLA Bruins have themselves the 19th head coach in program history, former player and Bruins Hall of Famer DeShaun Foster. 

Foster will be responsible for ushering in a new era for the Bruins. UCLA will enter a new conference starting in August 2024, and although some things will be different, some things will remain the same. For one, Bruins quarterback Ethan Garbers is expected to return as the QB1 for UCLA in 2024. 

Garbers appeared at his new head coach's introductory press conference and said he and Foster already have an established relationship, per Tracy Pierson of Bruin Report Online.

"I'm standing next to him all the time when we're running plays at practice," Garbers said. "I've had a lot of interaction with him. I think he's great, and I love him."

via Tracy Pierson of Bruin Report Online

The 6'3" junior went on to say this is the hire he and his teammates had wanted. The camaraderie and chemistry are there. Foster spent the previous six seasons as the UCLA's running backs coach. He has the respect of the team and the program. The program had his back, and Garbers made it very clear. 

Garbers also said the impact of having a Bruin and not an outsider come in played a huge factor in the hiring process. 

"It's a huge impact. I think when we met with Martin [Jarmond] and were discussing what to look for in a head coach and stuff, that was kind if one of the things we strayed away from was the players obviously didn't want to hire someone that was external or anything because we felt like we had a good culture and a really good environment and we just want to keep that."

via Tracy Pierson of Bruin Report Online

Garbers is in on Foster as HC, and so are former players, alumni, and fans.