UCLA Fires Dorrell
By: Brandon Rawe/Sports Network
Updated: December 3, 2007
For more on the UCLA job, click "WATCH"Los Angeles, CA (Sports Network) - UCLA fired head football coach Karl Dorrell on Monday.
Dorrell, a 1987 UCLA graduate, was dismissed despite a rather successful five- year tenure that included a bowl trip each season.
"This was a very difficult decision for me," said UCLA athletic director Dan Guerrero. "Karl has represented this program with dignity and class. He is a true Bruin and I respect what he has accomplished in his five years as our head coach, particularly off the field. But, at the end of the day, the focus has to be on results and I felt that a change was in the best interest for the future of our program."
Dorrell had a 35-27 career record at UCLA, including a 10-2 season in 2005.
"I want to thank Dan Guerrero for the opportunity to coach at my alma mater," said Dorrell. "I know that the program is in much better shape than when I inherited it and I believe that it is ready to flourish."
The Bruins stumbled down the stretch this season, dropping four of their last five for a mark of 6-6. They will play in the Las Vegas Bowl on December 22 against BYU. DeWayne Walker will serve as the coach for that game.
"I am proud of what the program accomplished during my five years, especially in the areas of academics, citizenship and recruiting," Dorrell added. "I think a great foundation has been laid and I will be pulling for the young men I recruited into the program to be successful in the future."
According to the LA Times, Boise State's Chris Petersen, Texas Tech's Mike Leach and former NFL coach Steve Mariucci have already been contacted as potential candidates for the vacancy, with Petersen possibly the top choice.
