LOS ANGELES _ An era that once appeared on the verge of a return to football glory for UCLA ended with a thud Sunday when the school announced it had fired coach Jim Mora, who could not build on the early success he achieved as his teams sputtered the last two seasons.
The Bruins, 5-6 overall and 3-5 in the Pac-12 Conference, could qualify for a lower-tier bowl game with a victory over California on Friday at the Rose Bowl, but their downward trajectory led to Mora's dismissal with four seasons left on his contract.
UCLA announced that it would honor the terms of that contract, which includes a buyout of about $12 million, exclusively using athletic department-generated funds, precluding the need for boosters to write a large check.
"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," Bruins athletic director Dan Guerrero said in a statement. "Jim helped re-establish 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."
Offensive coordinator Jedd Fisch, whose innovative play-calling has made him a rising star in the college ranks, will serve as the interim coach, the school announced.
Mora issued a statement thanking Guerrero in addition to his coaches and players, calling his time with the Bruins "the most rewarding experience of my career. ... I want to wish continued success to UCLA and its football program. With the opening of the new facilities and a groundwork laid for excellence, I firmly believe there are great times ahead."
As UCLA commenced what it described as a national search for a replacement, widespread speculation immediately centered on former Oregon coach Chip Kelly, the offensive mastermind who guided the Ducks to three Pac-12 championships and an appearance in the national championship game while compiling a 46-7 record in his four seasons with the school.
Kelly, 53, had less success in the NFL, going a combined 28-35 in four seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles and San Francisco 49ers before working as a TV football analyst this season. Kelly has also been linked to Florida's coaching vacancy.
Kelly's resume includes one significant blemish. In 2013, the NCAA issued an 18-month show-cause penalty to Kelly and placed Oregon on probation for three years after the Ducks were found to have made a $25,000 payment to a recruiting service that had ties to a player the school was pursuing.
Other possible coaching candidates could include Memphis' Mike Norvell, who has guided the Tigers to a 9-1 record that included a 48-45 victory over UCLA in September; Central Florida's Scott Frost, whose Knights are undefeated this season; Mississippi State's Dan Mullen, who took the Bulldogs to the Orange Bowl in 2014; Washington State's Mike Leach, the pass-happy guru whose Cougars are contending for the Pac-12 North Division title; and Utah's Kyle Whittingham, who has consistently overachieved with less than top-tier talent.
Mora, who turned 56 on Sunday, was fired less than a day after the Bruins put up a gutsy but mistake-filled effort in a 28-23 loss to cross-town rival USC at the Coliseum.
Mora compiled a 46-30 record in six seasons, including four bowl appearances and two 10-win seasons. But his teams have gone 10-17 since late in the 2015 season. The Bruins also have lost their last three games against USC after a 3-0 start against their rivals under Mora, who declared, "We own this town!" in the tunnel near the Trojans' locker room after a 35-14 victory at the Coliseum in 2013.
Mora vastly improved the infrastructure of UCLA's program, obtaining substantial raises for his assistants _ Fisch makes $810,000 this season _ while playing a pivotal role in the completion of the $75 million Wasserman Football Center.
But his teams struggled mightily on offense and defense. UCLA's rushing offense ranked next to last in the nation last season, and its rushing defense ranks next to last this season. The Bruins were also among the most penalized teams in the nation in each of Mora's seasons.
One possible factor in the swiftness of the decision to dismiss Mora was the $280 million contract that UCLA signed with Under Armour in 2016, a deal that provided the Bruins with additional financial resources but also heightened expectations for its top-tier programs.
Guerrero is now left to make his fourth football coaching hire in his 16 seasons on the job. UCLA announced that he would be assisted in his search by senior associate athletic director Josh Rebholz, prominent Bruins alumnus and sports/entertainment executive Casey Wasserman and former UCLA quarterback Troy Aikman.
UCLA has moved quickly in previous coaching searches. The school announced the hiring of Mora only 12 days after firing Rick Neuheisel in 2011.
And in this case, there is added urgency to name a replacement, considering that the new early signing day for recruits starts Dec. 20. As of Sunday, the Bruins' recruiting class was ranked No. 14 nationally by ESPN and included 19 players, led by highly touted quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson from Las Vegas Bishop Gorman High. Five players renounced their commitments from the program over a weeklong span starting in late October.
UCLA players thanked Mora in an outpouring of support on social media Sunday.
"Coach Mora had more passion for the game of football than anyone I've ever seen, and he poured his life into it," freshman defensive end Jaelan Phillips tweeted. "I will forever be grateful to him for believing in me early, and giving me the opportunity to play here at UCLA. I wish you the best coach."
Tweeted safety Jaleel Wadood: "Coach mora (sic) made it cool to come to UCLA and that's a fact. I will forever be grateful to play for a man so passionate about the game."
In the wake of the coaching change, a group of UCLA fans canceled plans to this week fly a banner over campus calling for Guerrero's dismissal.
"We are glad to see the administration being proactive right now," the group said in a statement released by organizer Michael Peters. "We'll continue to wait and see what direction they move during this process and take it from there.
"We thank Coach Mora for everything he's done here to elevate the program and bringing in great kids. We wish him the best in his future endeavors."
