UCLA Fires Bruins Coach Rick Neuheisel

Los Angeles - UCLA fired football coach Rick Neuheisel today, with Athletic Director Dan Guerrero citing concerns about the program's direction and "the inconsistency that plagued the team."

"We had some losses that were of epic proportion in the second half of the season," including Saturday's 50-0 loss to USC, the Bruins most one-sided loss to the Trojans since 1930, Guerrero said at a news conference at the UCLA's Los Angeles Tennis Center.

Neuheisel compiled a 21-28 record during his four years leading the Bruins, including an 0-4 mark against USC. He will coach the team against Oregon during Friday's inaugural Pacific-12 Conference Championship Game.

After that, offensive coordinator/wide receivers coach Mike Johnson will take over as coach on an interim basis. According to the university, a national search will be conducted for a new coach.

Neuheisel did not attend the news conference. Guerrero said Neuheisel was "very obviously disappointed to be told of his firing."

On his Twitter page Neuheisel wrote, "Thanks to all Bruin fans for a wonderful opportunity these last 4 years. I look forward to leading our team once more on Friday. Go Bruins!"

In a conference call promoting the Pacific-12 Conference Championship Game before the news conference, Neuheisel said he was not overly disappointed by the firing.

"We all know what we're getting into when we get into this (profession)," Neuheisel said. "I'm excited for the challenge Friday. If it is going to be my last time at UCLA, I want to make it special."

UCLA, 6-6, is a 31-point underdog to Oregon, 10-2, in the conference championship game, according to the gambling website covers.com.

Although Guerrero had said Saturday he would wait until after Friday's game to decide whether to make a coaching change, "making the move now allows us the opportunity to begin the search for a new coach immediately," Guerrero said.

Guerrero said the decision to fire Neuheisel was made Sunday "in consultation with senior staff," Guerrero said.

"I talked to the chancellor (Gene Block), informed of him of the decision and he's in full support," Guerrero said. "We talked about the timing. The timing made sense so we could get things rolling as far as the search goes."

Said Block: "Rick Neuheisel's strong personal values, integrity and tenacity made this decision extremely difficult for Dan Guerrero and the university. We wish Rick the best in his future endeavors."

The Orange County Register reported that Boise State coach Chris Petersen, Houston coach Kevin Sumlin and Cincinnati coach Butch Jones are tops on UCLA's wish list for a new coach.

When Karl Dorrell was fired as UCLA coach in 2007, creating the vacancy Neuheisel ultimately filled, Petersen was Guerrero's top choice as a successor, the Los Angeles Times reported, citing unnamed sources.

Petersen does not comment about open coaching positions and Boise State does not comment if it has been contacted by another school, Max Corbet, Boise State's assistant athletic director of media relations, told City News Service.

Sumlin told the Houston Chronicle that he is focusing on Saturday's Conference USA Championship Game and has not spoken with a representative of any other university.

Sumlin and Houston Athletic Director Mack Rhoades told The Chronicle they have had preliminary discussions about a contract renegotiation.

There was no immediate response to an email seeking comment from an athletic official at the University of Cincinnati.

UCLA could find itself it competition with Arizona State, which today fired Dennis Erickson, in the search for a new coach. No one on UCLA's coaching staff has expressed interest in the position, Guerrero said.

Guerrero said he will "work with a small group of individuals on my staff" to conduct the search for a new coach and consult with "football people I respect."

"We certainly have a good idea of the direction we want to go," Guerrero said. "Our goal is to be a national player, to be in the national discussion on a regular basis.

"... We're looking for someone that can fit the UCLA model. We're not going to look for someone with a tainted history. ... We want to bring someone in who can turn this thing around as quickly as possible," he said.

UCLA will be able to offer its new coach more money than previous coaches because of the conference's recent lucrative television package and an expected increase in ticket sales, Guerrero said.

"Having more financial ammunition will allow us to look at a greater pool," Guerrero said.

No state funds are used by UCLA's athletic department, which receives the bulk of its funding through ticket, broadcasting and merchandise revenues and donations.