Football Announces Title Updates for Drevno, Neuheisel and Whitfield
February 05, 2024 | Football
LOS ANGELES โ UCLA Head Football Coach Chip Kelly announced updated titles Monday for assistant coaches Tim Drevno, Jerry Neuheisel and Kodi Whitfield.
Drevno added running game coordinator to his role of offensive line coach. Neuheisel will be passing game coordinator and wide receivers coach going forward. Whitfield takes on the position of special teams coordinator to go along with his previous responsibility of cornerbacks coach.
"Tim, Jerry and Kodi are versatile coaches who bring different, valuable perspectives to our coaching staff," said Kelly. "They will continue to be tremendous assets for our players and me going forward."
Drevno's offensive line in 2023 paved the way for an attack that led the Pac-12 and ranked 16th nationally in rushing yards per game, at 197.9. The Bruins eclipsed 200 yards on the ground six times, going 5-1 in those contests. In four more games, they ran for 150-199 yards. Center Duke Clemens was named to the All-Conference second team.
In 2022, Drevno's first year as an on-field assistant at UCLA, the Joe Moore Award named his unit a semifinalist as one of the country's best as the Bruins led the league and ranked sixth overall with a ground rate of 237.2. Jon Gaines II (Arizona Cardinals) and Atonio Mafi (New England Patriots) were 2022 NFL Draft picks, while Raiqwon O'Neal (Seattle Seahawks) also made the professional ranks.
Neuheisel saw pass catcher Logan Loya have a breakout 2023, logging team highs of 59 receptions, 655 receiving yards and five touchdowns through the air. Each of UCLA's top six wide receivers on the leaderboard averaged 10 or more yards per catch. J.Michael Sturdivant registered two 100-yard games, including a career-high 142-yard showing at the Starco Brands LA Bowl Hosted By Gronk.
Under Neuheisel's guidance in 2022, Jake Bobo led the Bruins with 57 catches, 817 receiving yards seven touchdown receptions en route to a spot with the NFL's Seattle Seahawks. Kazmeir Allen (49 receptions and 95.3 all-purpose yards per game in 2022) and Kyle Philips (conference-leading 10 scoring catches in 2021) spent the entire 2023 NFL season with the Washington Commanders and Tennessee Titans organizations, respectively.
Whitfield took over as cornerbacks coach in 2023 and watched his group contribute to a defense that rated 10th nationally in total defense (301.5 yards per game) and 14th overall in scoring defense (18.4 points per game). UCLA's 15 interceptions โ highlighted by a league-leading five from Alex Johnson โ were 15th best in the FBS and second best among Pac-12 teams. The Bruins' team passing efficiency mark of 119.31 (19th in the country) was an improvement of more than 20 points from the 2022 number. Their 220.8 passing yards allowed per game bettered the 2022 output by more than 50 yards. Both numbers ranked second in the league.
Whitfield was an assistant special teams coach while at Sacramento State in 2022. He also guided the safeties and worked in player development for a Hornets team that posted an unblemished regular-season record. Whitfield got his start in coaching with UCLA as a graduate assistant coach during the 2020 and 2021 campaigns.
Drevno added running game coordinator to his role of offensive line coach. Neuheisel will be passing game coordinator and wide receivers coach going forward. Whitfield takes on the position of special teams coordinator to go along with his previous responsibility of cornerbacks coach.
"Tim, Jerry and Kodi are versatile coaches who bring different, valuable perspectives to our coaching staff," said Kelly. "They will continue to be tremendous assets for our players and me going forward."
Drevno's offensive line in 2023 paved the way for an attack that led the Pac-12 and ranked 16th nationally in rushing yards per game, at 197.9. The Bruins eclipsed 200 yards on the ground six times, going 5-1 in those contests. In four more games, they ran for 150-199 yards. Center Duke Clemens was named to the All-Conference second team.
In 2022, Drevno's first year as an on-field assistant at UCLA, the Joe Moore Award named his unit a semifinalist as one of the country's best as the Bruins led the league and ranked sixth overall with a ground rate of 237.2. Jon Gaines II (Arizona Cardinals) and Atonio Mafi (New England Patriots) were 2022 NFL Draft picks, while Raiqwon O'Neal (Seattle Seahawks) also made the professional ranks.
Neuheisel saw pass catcher Logan Loya have a breakout 2023, logging team highs of 59 receptions, 655 receiving yards and five touchdowns through the air. Each of UCLA's top six wide receivers on the leaderboard averaged 10 or more yards per catch. J.Michael Sturdivant registered two 100-yard games, including a career-high 142-yard showing at the Starco Brands LA Bowl Hosted By Gronk.
Under Neuheisel's guidance in 2022, Jake Bobo led the Bruins with 57 catches, 817 receiving yards seven touchdown receptions en route to a spot with the NFL's Seattle Seahawks. Kazmeir Allen (49 receptions and 95.3 all-purpose yards per game in 2022) and Kyle Philips (conference-leading 10 scoring catches in 2021) spent the entire 2023 NFL season with the Washington Commanders and Tennessee Titans organizations, respectively.
Whitfield took over as cornerbacks coach in 2023 and watched his group contribute to a defense that rated 10th nationally in total defense (301.5 yards per game) and 14th overall in scoring defense (18.4 points per game). UCLA's 15 interceptions โ highlighted by a league-leading five from Alex Johnson โ were 15th best in the FBS and second best among Pac-12 teams. The Bruins' team passing efficiency mark of 119.31 (19th in the country) was an improvement of more than 20 points from the 2022 number. Their 220.8 passing yards allowed per game bettered the 2022 output by more than 50 yards. Both numbers ranked second in the league.
Whitfield was an assistant special teams coach while at Sacramento State in 2022. He also guided the safeties and worked in player development for a Hornets team that posted an unblemished regular-season record. Whitfield got his start in coaching with UCLA as a graduate assistant coach during the 2020 and 2021 campaigns.
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