DeShaun Foster’s head coaching stint at UCLA didn’t go the way many had hoped. In his 15-game tenure, Foster posted a 5-7 record, with a late-season surge in Year 1 offering a glimpse of potential.
After a rough 1-5 start, the Bruins rattled off three straight wins to get to 4-5, showing signs of life in competitive outings against Washington and USC. With a strong transfer class on the way for 2025 - including the high-profile addition of quarterback Nico Iamaleava - there was cautious optimism that Year 2 could be the turning point.
Instead, things unraveled quickly.
UCLA stumbled out of the gate, dropping its first three games of the season. Two of those losses came against UNLV and New Mexico - games where the Bruins were expected to take care of business.
The performances were flat, the execution lacking, and the momentum Foster had started to build evaporated. Shortly after the 0-3 start, UCLA made the decision to part ways with Foster.
Now, Foster’s coaching journey may be taking him to Norman, Oklahoma.
With DeMarco Murray leaving the Sooners’ staff to join the Kansas City Chiefs, the running backs coach position at Oklahoma is open - and Foster’s name has emerged as a strong candidate. It’s a logical fit.
Foster has built a solid reputation as a running backs coach, with previous stops at both UCLA and Texas Tech. His track record includes helping develop NFL-caliber backs like Zach Charbonnet, Brittain Brown, and Joshua Kelley - all of whom saw significant growth under his guidance.
Foster’s coaching acumen at the position isn’t just rooted in X’s and O’s - it’s personal. He was one of the most dynamic running backs in UCLA history, and that experience translates.
He understands the nuances of the position, from vision and footwork to pass protection and receiving out of the backfield. Players trust him because he’s lived it.
Just ask Zach Charbonnet, who credited Foster with helping him become a more complete back, particularly in the passing game. That kind of development doesn’t happen by accident - it’s the product of detailed coaching and a deep understanding of what it takes to succeed at the next level.
If the Sooners do bring Foster aboard, they’re not just getting a position coach - they’re adding a former head coach who brings leadership, perspective, and a big-picture mindset to the room. That kind of experience can be invaluable in a high-stakes program like Oklahoma, where expectations are sky-high and every position group needs to perform at an elite level.
As for Foster’s future as a head coach? That chapter may not be closed.
Plenty of coaches have stumbled in their first go-around, only to regroup, refine their approach, and climb back up the ladder. A stop at a powerhouse like Oklahoma could be the perfect reset - a chance to re-establish his strengths, build new relationships, and put himself back in the conversation for future opportunities.
For now, a potential landing spot with the Sooners feels like a smart next step. It’s a program with national visibility, a tradition of strong running back play, and the kind of platform that could help Foster reassert himself as one of the top position coaches in the country.