On New Year’s Day, it was reported that UCLA had offered their defensive coordinator job to John Pagano and that the San Diego Chargers assistant was expected to accept the offer.
Four days later, um, scratch that. Jim Mora‘s search for a coordinator on the defensive side of the ball will continue.
The Chargers announced Thursday that Pagano has been promoted from linebackers coach to coordinator. Pagano will replace Greg Manusky, who had been canned earlier in the day.
With Pagano abruptly removing himself from consideration, it’s unclear which direction Mora will turn for his defensive coordinator. Former Arizona offensive coordinator Noel Mazzone is expected to assume the same position with the Bruins, although that has yet to be officially announced by the school.
There is one certainty, however -- Mora did not hit his projected timeframe for completing his coaching staff.
“The staff should be filled by Monday or Tuesday because the (recruiting) dead period ends Tuesday and we want to hit the road running on Wednesday,” Mora said Saturday.