UCLA fires DeShaun Foster, Tim Skipper named interim coach

LOS ANGELES UCLA fired head coach DeShaun Foster on Sunday, the school announced, parting ways with the former Bruins star after the football program opened the season 0-3. Tim Skipper, a special assistant on staff, was named interim head coach and the athletic department said it will begin a national search for a permanent replacement.

Athletic director Martin Jarmond praised Foster's long ties to the university in a statement, saying he appreciated Foster's service to UCLA as a Hall of Fame student athlete, assistant coach and head coach. Foster, who led the program into the Big Ten last season, released his own statement expressing disappointment but saying the program has a bright future.

The move follows three lopsided defeats this month, including a 43-10 loss to Utah, a 30-23 loss to UNLV and a 35-10 home loss to New Mexico, results that left the Bruins outscored by 108 to 43 over the three games, according to team totals. The string of losses intensified scrutiny of Foster's leadership, discipline and in-game decisions after his promotion to the head job in 2024.

Foster had defended several tactical calls earlier in the week, including a decision in the Utah game to kick...