DeShaun Foster is set to make his debut as head coach of UCLA football this Saturday against Hawaii. This marks a significant moment for Foster, who returns to his alma mater nearly 26 years after he first played for the Bruins as a freshman running back.
"I kind of compare it to my first time playing varsity football, you're excited, you have a little bit of butterflies," Foster told reporters Wednesday of his upcoming first game. "That's it. I haven't had that feeling in a while ... it's like Christmas, I'm just anticipating and waiting for it to get here."
Foster's journey to this role has been unexpected. Initially, he was preparing for a season as the running backs coach for the Las Vegas Raiders.
However, after Chip Kelly left UCLA to join Ohio State as offensive coordinator, Foster was appointed as head coach.
His coaching career began in 2012 as a student assistant at UCLA, and he quickly progressed to a graduate assistant.
After a brief stint at Texas Tech, he returned to UCLA as the running backs coach in 2017. Although he lacks experience as a coordinator or head coach, Foster feels confident in his football knowledge.
As the Bruins prepare for their matchup, they are favored to win against Hawaii. Foster is focused on ensuring his team matches the intensity of their opponents, who will be eager to perform well in front of their home crowd.
"Hopefully my team gets out there and matches their intensity," Foster said before correcting himself. "They have to match our intensity."
“My players know how bad I want to win this game,” Foster said.
UCLA has not been a top contender in college football for some time, but Foster aims to change that.
Despite low expectations from analysts, he believes his team has the potential to surprise critics this season. Foster emphasizes discipline, respect, and enthusiasm as core values to guide his players.
With the season opener approaching, Foster is ready to lead the Bruins into a new chapter.
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