Aug. 1, 2006
Ed Kezirian, who is in 27th year as a member of the UCLA athletic program and his 14th in the area of academics, has been named Associate Director of Athletics for Academic and Student Services. In his new role, he will work in conjunction with Director of Student-Athlete Counseling Mike Casillas to oversee all functions of the athletic department's academic area.
Kezirian has spent the last 13 years as an Assistant Athletic Director for Academic Services. He was responsible for implementing academic services for football team members and tracking the academic progress of the student-athletes. In addition, he was also responsible for interacting with other departments within the athletic administration in the area of student services for the football team.
He previously served as a member of the Bruin football coaching staff for 13 seasons (1976-77; 1982-1992) under then head coach Terry Donahue. From 1982-88, he tutored the Bruin tackles and tight ends and then in 1989, he worked with the centers and guards. His last three seasons, he was in charge of the entire offensive line. In 1976-77, he served as a graduate assistant for the football team.
In 2002, Kezirian was named interim head football coach on December 9th during the transition period leading up to the beginning of coach Karl Dorrell's tenure. Coach Kezirian and staff helped guide the Bruins to victory in the Sega Las Vegas Bowl game on Christmas Day.
Throughout his coaching career, "Coach K" worked with many of the top Bruin linemen, including future professional performers Irv Eatman, Duval Love, Robert Cox, David Richards, Frank Cornish, Vaughn Parker, Craig Novitsky, Mike Flanagan and Jonathan Ogden.
Kezirian's expertise as a standout Bruin lineman in the early 70's continued in his years as a coach. In 1973, he started on an offensive line for coach Pepper Rodgers that opened holes for a powerful Wishbone-T attack that set single-season records for rushing yardage (4,403), total offense per game (470.6), average yards rushing (400.3) per game, points in a season (470) and a single-game rushing best of 621 yards versus Stanford.
Prior to coming to UCLA, Kezirian lettered in football at Central Union High School in Fresno. He also spent two seasons at Reedley Junior College. At UCLA, Kezirian earned all-conference honors and the Bruins' Kenneth Washington Award for the outstanding senior offensive player. Ed then went on to a professional career. He was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals, but decided to play instead with the Southern California Sun of the World Football League. In 1976, Ed returned to Westwood. His responsibilities included coaching the offensive and defensive lines and the scout team players.
In 1978, he was hired by University of Hawaii head coach Dick Tomey, a former Bruin assistant coach. The next four years were spent coaching the Rainbow tight ends, tackles and special teams players. In 1981, he served as coach of the entire offensive line as well as special teams.
Kezirian, who will be 54 on August 4, earned his BA in Sociology at UCLA in 1975. He and his wife Kay have three children, Blane (a UCLA graduate and former tight end), Christine and Jaclyn.