(Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports)
UCLA coach Jim Mora signed a new six-year contract to stay with the Bruins, the school announced Tuesday, a day after there were reports he was interested in the open position at Washington.
The Bruins have gone 18-8 under Mora in the last two seasons, winning the Pac-12 South in 2012 and recording back-to-back wins against USC.
With Steve Sarkisian’s move from Washington to USC on Monday, reports surfaced that Mora may be a candidate for the Huskies’ program.
Mora is a graduate of the University of Washington, where he played football and began his coaching career as a graduate assistant. When Mora was the coach of the Atlanta Falcons in 2006, he said that he would be willing to leave his job.
“Jim Mora has established himself as one of the preeminent coaches in all of college football,” UCLA athletic director Dan Guerrero said in a statement. “Under his guidance, UCLA football has garnered national recognition for its success on the field, in the classroom and in the community. We are excited about the commitment Jim has made to our student-athletes and this University and feel this extension further demonstrates UCLA’s commitment to building a championship-caliber football program.”
Mora has also been promised a raise for his assistants and improvements in UCLA’s infrastructure, the Los Angeles Times reported.
“I want to thank Dan Guerrero and Chancellor Gene Block for their tremendous support,” Mora said. “This further commitment the University has made is crucial as we continue in our pursuit of excellence.
“From day one our goal has been to win championships, and with our tremendous staff, our incredible student-athletes and our dedicated administration, UCLA will win championships. We’ve only just scratched the surface of our potential, and as a Bruin fan, I’d be chomping at the bit just to see what UCLA football is going to do next.”
