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Jim Mora

UCLA fires coach Jim Mora after loss to USC dropped Bruins to 5-6

Tom Schad
USA TODAY

UCLA announced Sunday afternoon that it has fired football coach Jim Mora.

Jim Mora watches his team from the sideline during the first half against Memphis.

Mora was one game from finishing his sixth season with the Bruins, who fell to 5-6 on the season with a 28-23 loss to USC on Saturday.

"Making a coaching change is never easy, but it's an especially difficult decision when you know that a coach has given his all to our University," UCLA athletic director Dan Guerrero said in a statement announcing the move.

"Jim helped reestablish our football program, and was instrumental in so many ways in moving the program forward. While his first four seasons at UCLA were very successful, the past two seasons have not met expectations. We thank Jim and his family for his service to our school and his unquestionable commitment to our student-athletes."

According to the terms of his contract, Mora will be due a buyout of about $12.36 million, though that figure can be offset by future earnings. UCLA said in the release that his contract "will be honored by UCLA Athletics, exclusively using department-generated funds."

Mora signed a two-year contract extension before last season and was under contract through the 2021 season. Sunday marked his 56th birthday.

"I would like to thank Dan Guerrero and the University administration for giving me the chance to work at a great institution for the past six years," Mora said in a statement released to reporters later Sunday. "Coaching student-athletes at UCLA has been the most rewarding experience of my career, and I know the future is bright for the program."

The son of the longtime NFL head coach who shares his name, Mora also previously coached in the NFL with the Atlanta Falcons and Seattle Seahawks. His tenure at UCLA got off to a promising start with 29 wins in his first three seasons, but the program had fallen into mediocrity of late.

After finishing 4-8 in 2016, the Bruins have hovered around .500 for most of this year, despite the presence of likely first-round pick Josh Rosen at quarterback. 

Mora finished his tenure 46-30 with four bowl appearances and one Pac-12 South title.

UCLA announced that former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Troy Aikman, senior associate athletic director Josh Rebholz and Casey Wasserman, the CEO of a Los Angeles-based sports agency and marking company, will assist Guerrero in the search for Mora's replacement.

Offensive coordinator Jedd Fisch will serve as the program's interim head coach.

"We have no set timeline to make a hire but will move as expediently and comprehensively as possible," Guerrero said in a statement.

Contact Tom Schad at tschad@usatoday.com or on Twitter @Tom_Schad

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