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Will UCLA Lose an Important Assistant Coach to Oregon State?

Originally posted on FanNation All Bruins | By Jason Fray | Last updated 12/1/23

Since being elevated from defensive coordinator to head coach, Oregon State's Trent Bray has been looking to fill out his coaching staff in Corvallis.

In search of a brilliant offensive mind to lead the program in the wake of Jonathan Smith's exit, one coach appears to be sticking out.

According to FootballScoop, multiple sources have indicated that Bray is targeting UCLA QB Coach Ryan Gunderson to fill the team's vacant offensive coordinator role.

The move makes sense on several levels. Gunderson is an Oregon native (hailing from Portland). He played his collegiate career at Oregon State -- graduating in 2007. Additionally, his entire coaching career has been spent on the West Coast.

Gunderson was a GA at OSU for a season before spending three years at San Jose State as a QB Coach/Passing Game Coordinator. Gunderson also had a four-year stint in Corvallis working in the player personnel sector.

Kelly brought Gunderson to UCLA in 2021. Since then, he's been working with the Bruins as the team's QB coach.

At only 39 years of age, Gunderson is considered to be a strong candidate deserving of a move-up to a coordinator position. He put in the work developing an NFL quarterback in Dorian Thompson-Robinson and has learned from under one of College Football's most prolific offensive minds for multiple years.

If UCLA does indeed lose Gunderson, keep an eye out for David Shaw potentially joining the staff in some capacity. The former Stanford head coach was highly successful in running the program in Palo Alto for years. Not only is he reportedly friends with Kelly, but Shaw's son Carter is currently a receiver on UCLA's roster.

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This article first appeared on FanNation All Bruins and was syndicated with permission.

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