Chip Kelly is back in the Pac-12. The program announced that it had tabbed Kelly as a replacement for Jim Mora on Saturday morning after rumors were swirling regarding him taking the job. It reportedly came down to the Bruins and Florida for Kelly’s services, but ultimately, he decided to stay on the west coast.
UCLA announced the move with a video that said Kelly is ushering in a “new era” in Westwood.
Welcome to Westwood, Chip Kelly! #GoBruins pic.twitter.com/5fxfUZQFIp
— UCLA Athletics (@UCLAAthletics) November 25, 2017
Additionally, the program issued a press release that included the details about Kelly’s contract. The veteran head coach will receive a deal worth $23.3 million that includes a $9 million reciprocal buyout.
“It is an absolute honor to join the Bruin Family, and I am grateful to Chancellor Block and to Dan Guerrero for this incredible opportunity,” Kelly said in the statement. “UCLA is a world-class institution with a distinguished history in athletics, and we will do our part to uphold its tradition of excellence.”
This is Kelly’s return to college after coaching Oregon from 2009-12. During his time at the helm of the Ducks, Kelly led the program to a 46-7 record with an insane 33-3 mark in Pac-12 play and two trips to the national championship game. He left the program for the NFL, where he went 28-35 over four years as the head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles and the San Francisco 49ers.
