UCLA fired football head coach DeShaun Foster on Sunday, after a 0-3 start to the season. The Bruins kicked-off the season with a 43-10 loss Utah at home, followed by back-to-back losses to Mountain West teams. Tim Skipper, who was previously the special assistant to Foster, will serve as the Bruins’ interim head coach for the rest of the season

UCLA athletic director Martin Jarmond said in a statement: “I want to extend my sincere appreciation to DeShaun for his contributions to UCLA Football over the course of many years, first as a Hall of Fame student-athlete, then as an assistant coach and finally as head coach. He was named to this role at a challenging time of year, on the cusp of a move to a new conference, and he embraced it, putting his heart into moving the program forward. His legacy and love for this university are firmly established. He is a Bruin for life, and we wish him, his wife, Charity, and their family the best.” The school also announced on Sunday that it will honor the terms of Foster’s contract, which includes a buyout that will owe him more than $5 million.

Foster is a former All-American running back for the Bruins, who was in his second year as the Bruins’ coach, going 5-10 during his tenure. He led the team to a 5-7 record last season, before the disappointing 0-3 start to this season. After the Week 1 loss to Utah, the Bruins suffered a 30-23 loss to UNLV in Las Vegas, and a shocking 35-10 defeat Saturday against the New Mexico Lobos.

Foster said in a statement: “Serving as the head coach at UCLA, my beloved alma mater, has been the honor of a lifetime. While I am deeply disappointed that we were unable to achieve the success that our players, fans, and university deserve, I am grateful for the opportunity to have led this program.”

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