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Former longtime Penn State assistant Tom Bradley has been hired as UCLA’s new defensive coordinator.
FOX Sports College Football Insider Bruce Feldman reported last week that Bradley was in line for the job.
“To bring a coach of Tom Bradley’s caliber to UCLA is very exciting,” said Bruins head coach Jim Mora, according to the school’s official athletics website. “His knowledge of the game, extensive experience, level of intensity and attention to detail all make him one of the best defensive teachers in college football. Combine that with the fact that he has strong national recruiting ties and is one of the most well respected coaches in the game - it all adds up to Tom being a tremendous addition to our staff.”
Bradley replaces Jeff Ulbrich, who jumped to the NFL's Atlanta Falcons earlier this month.
Bradley was a player and assistant coach under Joe Paterno at Penn State for 37 years, including 12 seasons as defensive coordinator. He became interim head coach when Paterno was fired in 2011 after his former assistant Jerry Sandusky was arrested for child molestation.
The Nittany Lions went 1-3 under Bradley and he was let go after the season. Bradley, who worked as a defensive assistant while Sandusky was defensive coordinator, spent two years away from coaching before being hired by West Virginia in 2014.
Bradley was senior associate head coach under Dana Holgorsen at West Virginia last season and coached the defensive line.
The Johnstown, Pennsylvania, native is Mora's third defensive coordinator in three seasons. Ulbrich followed Lou Spanos, who left for the NFL after the 2013 season.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
