At long last, the long-rumored split between UCLA and offensive coordinator Norm Chow has all but come to fruition.
The only issues remaining to be ironed out, it seems, are when it will become official and where Chow will land.
First reported by Scout.com earlier today, the Bruins have reached an agreement with San Francisco 49ers offensive coordinator Mike Johnson for the same position on Rick Neuheisel‘s staff. However, UCLA has yet to clarify Chow’s status, although Johnson’s hiring seems to indicate it’s a matter of when, not if, Chow is bought out of a two-year contract extension he signed in November.
Chow’s agent told the Los Angeles Daily News that he “hasn’t been advised of anything regarding Norm Chow by Rick Neuheisel or Dan Guerrero, nor spoken to them in quite some time.”
As for where Chow could land when he’s eventually let go by the Bruins, CFT can confirm rumors that Chow is in discussions with Utah about becoming their coordinator. A source told us earlier this evening that “nothing was imminent” on the Chow front, but that could change as early as tomorrow. Dave Schramm just recently completed his second season as the Utes’ coordinator.
If Chow were to be hired by Utah, it would create another layer of intrigue for a couple of games next season. Utah will move to the Pac-12 in time for the 2011 season, and the Utes are scheduled to play UCLA Nov. 12 during their first year in the conference.
Additionally, the Utes have in-state rival BYU -- in Provo -- on their slate next season. Chow, of course, spent 27 seasons with the Cougars, including the last 18 as LaVell Edwards’ coordinator.