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Neuheisel set for UCLA head-coaching debut

Aug 25, 2008 - 10:26 PM No. 18 Tennessee at UCLA, 8:00 pm EDT

PASADENA, California (Ticker) -- Nearly a quarter century after quarterbacking his alma mater to one of its most impressive victories, Rick Neuheisel will lead another UCLA team into the Rose Bowl.

The 46-year-old Neuheisel makes his UCLA head-coaching debut on Labor Day, when the Bruins host 18th-ranked Tennessee.

In his final game as a player, he was the starting quarterback for the Bruins in their 45-9 rout of fourth-ranked Illinois in the 1984 Rose Bowl. Neuheisel spent six seasons as an assistant at UCLA from 1988-93 before beginning his head coaching career at Colorado in 1995.

"UCLA is a special place," he said when he was hired to succeed Karl Dorrell, who was fired after posting a 35-27 record in five seasons in Westwood. "We are going to build a program our supporters will be proud of, both on and off the field.

"I can't wait to get started. I made some mistakes earlier in my career and I take responsibility for those mistakes. I have learned from that experience and I would never do anything that would reflect negatively on UCLA."

Neuheisel returns to the college ranks after getting fired by Washington for participating in a pool for the 2003 NCAA basketball tournament. He guided the Huskies to the 2000 Rose Bowl, but faced accusations that he overlooked criminal behavior by his players.

Neuheisel spent the past three seasons as an assistant for the NFL's Baltimore Ravens.

While Neuheisel is returning to his alma mater, Phillip Fulmer is beginning his 17th season at Tennessee as the dean of Southeastern Conference coaches.

Fulmer is coming of one of his most satisfying years, guiding the Volunteers to the SEC championship game after many Tennessee fans called for his ouster after a 41-17 loss to Alabama that dropped the team to 4-3.

Tennessee lost to eventual national champion Louisiana State, 21-14, in the SEC title game, but capped a 10-4 campaign with a 21-17 win over Wisconsin in the Outback Bowl.

But now the Volunteers face life without Erik Ainge, who passed for 8,700 career yards at Tennessee, the third-highest total in school history behind Peyton Manning and Casey Clausen. Ainge was drafted in the fifth round of this year's draft by the New York Jets.

Junior Jonathan Crompton, who has spent three years on the bench, has been tabbed as Ainge's heir apparent. The 6-4, 220-pounder threw four touchdown passes as a freshman in 2006 - two against Louisiana State - and one last year in limited action.

Tennessee's top offensive threat will be senior running back Arian Foster who rushed for 1,193 yards last season, leaving him less than 700 shy of Travis Henry's school career rushing mark.