Jim Mora Jr: Grading the UCLA Hire
Instead of listing the names rumored to have been contacted by UCLA Athletic Director Dan Guerrero, it might be easier to list the names not rumored to have been contacted by Guerrero. After much ado and some very wild speculation, UCLA has named former NFL defensive coordinator and head coach Jim Mora, Jr. as the Bruins next head football coach.
Mora will replace outgoing UCLA head coach Rick Neuheisel. For our take on Neuheisel, please click here.
Recommended Articles
Jim Mora, Jr. is known mostly for being the son of Jim Mora, Sr. Even if you think you don't know who Jim Mora, Sr. is, we can bet that you do. "Playoffs!? Playoffs!? Don't talk about playoffs.....I just hope we can win another game." As was discussed in our firing analysis of Rick Neuheisel, we believe UCLA is a very solid job that should be attractive to some of the best and brightest in college football.
Based on our proprietary CBTN Best Head Coaching Jobs Ranking, UCLA is the 38th best job in college football. The school is located in one of the most attractive cities in the world and in one of the most talented football states in the country. Additionally, UCLA plays in a major conference and has a brand name that reaches coast-to-coast. In interviews after he was fired, Coach Neuheisel complained about UCLA's facilities and lack of commitment to football. He would certainly be in a position to know much better than us the state of UCLA's facilities and depth of the administration's commitment to winning.
However, when we consider that Rick Neuheisel played 92% of his games with superior or equal talent** at UCLA and won just 42% of his overall games, it's difficult for us to have much sympathy for Coach Neuheisel and his complaints about facilities. The last time we checked, facilities didn't cause coaches to come up with poor game plans. So, the Bruins have turned to Jim Mora, Jr. to save their seemingly sinking ship. Is he the right man for the job? Below is our By The Numbers analysis of the hiring:
#d8ceb6; padding: 4px; border-collapse: separate; border-radius: 10px; border: 1px solid white;" valign="top">
Jim Mora, Jr. - Hiring Summary
#6b5e50; background-color: #6b5e50; height: 2px; width: 99%; border: 0; margin: 3px;" />
Positives
Jim Mora, Jr. is not Rick Neuheisel. |
** Talent level is determined by the program’s average recruiting rank (per Scout.com) over the 4 year span leading up to the year the game was played. Equivalent talent is defined as having an average recruiting rank difference within 10 ranking spots of an opponent. Superior talent is the situation where the average recruiting rank is great than 10 ranking spots of an opponent. Inferior talent is the situation where the average recruiting rank is less than 10 rankings spots of an opponent.