Is Al the Golden one?

The Times' UCLA beat writer, Chris Foster, confirmed that the "mystery" interviewee with Chancellor Gene Block today was Temple Coach Al Golden.

Only 38, Golden took the Owls — a perennial loser than almost dropped football —  from 1-11 in his first season to 4-8. He was the defensive coordinator at Virginia from 2001-04, coincidentally the same school where Block served as provost.

If hired — and he hasn't been hired yet — he would be the first UCLA head coach from "outside the family" since Red Sanders was hired in 1949. Golden was a tight end at Penn State under Joe Paterno and graduated in 1991. He has been a defensive coach since then.

Comments

[Urban Bruin]

Wow Temple...that's impressive. Golden boasts a 4-8 record this year, I'm almost ready to say sorry to KD afterall. Santa, can you please get me a new coach and an AD for Christmas?

[Danny]

Oh great, we are interviewing a coach whose strong suit is that he won 4 games(?!?!). If those are the results we want, then why not keep Dorrell?

Has anyone asked the question of why no proven head coach wants to coach UCLA?

Could it possibly be that they know that they are not going to get any Athletic Department support?

Just look at the last few weeks: Guerrero states that they will pay top dollar, and yet we are not doing that. Likely Guerrero caved to UCLA administrators. Now he needs a selection committee to help him search out the top coaches?

I read that either means he is on a short leash with the administration, or worse, he doesn’t know who the top coaches are.

So, he either lacks the confidence to lead, or he lacks the skill. Either one is fatal to us.

I say what we really need is a new Athletic Director, one that actually looks after the interests of the athletic department, and, when necessary, fights the administration. Guerrero is not that person.

[Ned S'66]

Obviously no self respecting head football coach wants to come to UCLA. He would have to accept the defensive coordinator in place because a recruiting class filled with petulant teenagers won't play there without him. Not to say that Walker isn't a good coach, but to have high schoolers dictating who will coach is ridiculous.
To hire Rick Neuheisel would be a stupid mistake and make my alma mater a laughing stock.
T.J. was right in his column yesterday. DG is in over his head.

[Stan Gomez]

Unbelievable..well, I guess its believable now. Even interviewing Golden tells me that we should have just stuck with KD. I thought we were going to get a "proven" head coach. Apparently, all sources are correct. UCLA has zero respect as a football program, getting turned down from bigger coaching names. Its sad to say we can't even attract a coach from the WAC. How bad is that? Shaking my head here in Louisiana & having to put up with all these Lsu fans.........thanks DG, I appreciate it.

[UCLA DB 09]

As a fellow alum, friend and huge fan of the program, I am absolutley uppalled with how this process has been conducted. " Al Golden"!!!!!!!
We cannot be serious, we have already went down this road with Karl Dorrell and now we are going there again? Rick Neuhesiul is the only option at this point period, there is no other alternative. We messed this up before and we do not need to do it again, back when Donahue stepped down in 95 and 96 we went with Bob Toldeo instead of bringing in the very young and innovative offensive coordinator at the university of colorado who by the way had ties to the ucla football program, oh yeah that was Rick Neuhesiul. Mr Guerruo please do not mess this up.

[Sandy]

First coach "outside the family" since Red Sanders? How about Pepper Rodgers, who played at Georgia Tech and coached at Kansas before UCLA?

[Rich Perelman]

Sandy:

Pepper Rodgers was an assistant to Tommy Prothro, who was an assistant to Sanders.

[Tony B]

Its got to be Rick. He's a winner and a Bruin. His scrapes were totally insignificant.

[Notsurebruin]

Why is Gene Block interviewing sucky Golden ?? That's all we need .
Don't tick us all off now !! Are you guys(admin) counting dollars again ?? . If UCLA is going to be CHEAP again , the results will be the same. Bring KArl back if you were not serious about winning . How about surprising us with a proven coach and pay him accordingly. Let's GO you CHEAPS !!! We want to win and go to the Rosebowl every other year. I can't believe I'm hearing squeeky noises.

[TES]

Neuheisel is the only viable option right now, and a proven winner who made some stupid mistakes while at Colorado (minor infractions) and UW (bet on the NCAA basketball tournament with neighbors). He is a fierce competitor who has a keen desire to win. He can stand across the field from Pete Carroll and make a highly sought after high school recruit scratch his head and say to himself, "who do I want to play for?" Rick is a winner. He has charisma. He is a leader. More important, he is a Bruin. If given the chance to take over as head coach, a role he has proven to be capable of in the past, I am confident that he will put UCLA football into the mix of some of the great programs around the country. Block would be a "Blockhead" if at the end of the day, he endorses Golden with whom he knew at UVA while Golden was a defensive coordinator. Other than through this relationship, how could Golden be seriously considered? TES/'83

[Armand Morton]

This is not a blog covering UCLA. A Blog would have an update on the coaching search since it is being reported UCLA is talking to Oregon coach Mike B. This is a traditional report disguised as a blog. You should really look up the difference and stop calling yourself a blog. When you come into the office tomorrow and read this, make sure you get right on that.

[Euan B.]

Hey Armand, lay off. What did Rich ever do to you? Maybe he's a little slow in covering the new developments, but that's no reason to be rude. If you want information on the Bellotti interview, there are many other sites you can go to. I, for one, appreciate the information I get from this blog. Keep up the good work, Rich, and don't pay attention to guys like Armand who have nothing better to do.