UCLA lost defensive coordinator Lou Spanos to the Tennessee Titans on Saturday but has already settled on his replacement, according to a report on Sunday from CoachingSearch.com.
Bruins linebackers/special teams coach Jeff Ulbrich will be promoted to defensive coordinator, as head coach Jim Mora moves to limit any recruiting fallout from Spanos’ sudden jump to the NFL.
Ulbrich’s linebacker unit this past fall was one of the best in the nation, featuring All-American Anthony Barr, Pac-12 freshman of the year Myles Jack plus veterans Jordan Zumwalt and Eric Kendricks.
He’ll inherit a defense that showed great improvement over the previous season despite starting several freshmen on the defensive line and in the secondary. While Ulbrich has never been a defensive coordinator, he might, in essence, be a figurehead for now given Mora’s extensive defensive background.