Chip Kelly UCLA departure: Head coach leaves after 6 seasons

Chip Kelly is leaving UCLA after six seasons to become the offensive coordinator at Ohio State under head coach Ryan Day.

Chip Kelly, the head coach of UCLA football, has announced his departure from the program. After six seasons with the Bruins, Kelly is set to become the offensive coordinator at Ohio State under head coach Ryan Day. This move comes as UCLA prepares to make its debut in the Big Ten Conference next season.

UCLA athletic director Martin Jarmond expressed his gratitude for Kelly's service and wished him and his wife well in their future endeavors. Kelly's time at UCLA was not as successful as his previous coaching stints, with the team posting a record of 35-34 and making just two bowl game appearances. Despite the mediocre results, the UCLA athletic department had expressed confidence in Kelly's leadership and praised the strong culture he had built within the team.

Kelly has previous experience in the NFL, having served as the head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles and the San Francisco 49ers. His connection with Day dates back to their time at New Hampshire, where Kelly was the offensive coordinator and Day was the quarterback.

While UCLA is not scheduled to face Ohio State in its first season in the Big Ten, the two teams are set to meet in 2025. UCLA's move to the Big Ten comes alongside rival Southern California, as well as Pac-12 powers Washington and Oregon.

Overall, Kelly's departure marks a new chapter for both UCLA and Ohio State, and it will be interesting to see how his role as offensive coordinator impacts the Buckeyes' performance in the coming seasons.