Eric Bieniemy will coach in 2024, but not in the NFL. The former Kansas City Chiefs and Washington Commanders offensive coordinator is set to become the next associate head coach and offensive coordinator at UCLA, ESPN’s Adam Schefter and Pete Thamel reported Saturday.
Bieniemy is going back to the college ranks after spending just one season in Washington under head coach Ron Rivera. Rivera was fired after the season and the Commanders hired Dan Quinn to fill their head coaching vacancy. Quinn announced during his introductory press conference earlier this month that Bieniemy would not be retained.
Contrary to the belief that he was relieved of his duties, Bieniemy left on his own accord, he told ESPN.
“I have no regrets with the Commanders,” Bieniemy wrote in an email. “Contrary to what some think and what has been put out in the media, I was not fired. I actually just chose not to stay. Learned a lot and that is always a good thing. I will continue my walk in my peace. I’m excited to be here and to coach these young men and football again. My expectations and desire to be excellent will never be turned down. I’m fired up. Let’s go.”
Bieniemy will instead make his way to UCLA, where he previously served as the running backs coach from 2003-05. His last collegiate job was at Colorado from 2011-12, working as the team’s offensive coordinator. From there, he joined the Chiefs as their running backs coach before being named offensive coordinator in 2018. Bieniemy won two Super Bowl championships in Kansas City. He interviewed for multiple head coaching vacancies over the last few hiring cycles, though nothing ever materialized.
Eric Bieniemy taking on new challenge at UCLA
“I have had countless conversations and interviews with many teams, and I have been applauded and lauded,” Bieniemy wrote. “I can’t say why certain decisions were or were not made but it had nothing to [do] with a lack of anything on my end.
“My self-dignity, worth, integrity, personhood, manhood will never be questioned or compromised. It is not always about money, either. With everything in life, it is often all about timing. At this time in my life, the opportunity affords me the pleasure of continuing to be a maker and leader of men, to do what I love, follow my passion and my dreams while not compromising on who I am as a man.”
Bieniemy is a significant hire for newly hired Bruins head coach DeShaun Foster, who doesn’t have any prior experience as a coordinator. Bieniemy, who grew up in nearby West Covina, California, will soon get to work in installing his offense.
“This is a great opportunity for me to help support DeShaun as a head coach, to work with him and to work for him as well,” Bieniemy wrote. “My goal is to help him to be a successful head coach in our profession.
“It’s an opportunity for my family and I to return back to a place that we once called home.”
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