Nov 30, 2024; Pasadena, California, USA; Fresno State Bulldogs head coach Tim Skipper during the second quarter against the UCLA Bruins at Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-Imagn Images Robert Hanashiro-Imagn Images

UCLA Fans, Meet Tim Skipper, Bruins' Interim HC

Originally posted on UCLA Bruins on SI | By Connor Moreno | Last updated Sep 14, 2025 2:27 PM ET

UCLA yet again shook the college football landscape by relieving second-year head coach DeShaun Foster of his duties after a bleak 0-3 start to the 2025 season. Tim Skipper, Bruins special assistant to the head coach, will be stepping in as interim as a search begins.

Skipper was brought on in mid-July after serving as Fresno State's interim head coach for the 2024 season. With that being said, let's get to know Skipper.

Meet Your New (For Now) UCLA Bruins Head Coach

Skipper was named Fresno State's interim head coach just over a year ago after then-head coach Jeff Tedford announced he would be stepping down. He joined the staff back in 2021 as a linebackers coach and was moved up to assistant coach for the 2022 and 2023 seasons.

In 2024, despite taking over at the helm just a few weeks before the start of camp, he led the Bulldogs to a respectable 6-7 record and led the program to its fourth bowl game in four years. He also coached them to a 37-10 Isleta New Mexico Bowl win against the New Mexico State Aggies in 2023, giving him a 7-7 record with Fresno State.

Prior to his latest stint with Fresno State, he was the assistant head coach and linebackers coach for Central Michigan in the 2020 and 2021 seasons, the defensive coordinator for UNLV in the 2018-19 season, linebackers and running backs coach for Florida from 2015-18, assistant head coach and linebackers coach for Colorado State from 2012-14, linebackers/defensive run game coordinator and running backs coach for Fresno State from 2006-08 and 2009-11, defensive backs coach and defensive coordinator for Sacramento State from 2003-05, and the defensive backs coach and coordinator for Western New Mexico from 2001-02.

Skipper was also a linebacker for the Bulldogs from 1997-2000.

According to Ben Bolch of the LA Times, Athletics Director Martin Jarmond and Senior Associate Athletics Director Erin Adkins will be compiling a committee of "accomplished sports and business executives and UCLA greats" to aid in the search for the next head coach.

The Bruins have a bye this week before starting conference play against Northwestern on Sept. 27.

This article first appeared on UCLA Bruins on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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