Jim Mora, San Diego Chargers Reportedly In Talks Over Head Coaching Vacancy
The San Diego Chargers are allegedly eyeballing UCLA coach Jim Mora to fill the vacancy in their head-coaching position, the Los Angeles Times is reporting.
According to the Times, Mora, 51, was contacted by the Chargers who are on the hunt for a new head coach after firing Norv Turner last week.
University sources told the Times that they expect Mora to stay with the Bruins because of the school’s recent commitment to raising assistant coaches’ salaries and improving its football facilities.
(A person familiar with the situation said UCLA offensive line coach Adrian Klemm — one of the coaches already under contract for 2013 — has received a $50,000 raise offer that would boost his pay to $325,000.)
“Rest assured that I, along with Chancellor (Gene) Block and the university, share that dedication to Jim and the team, and together we are committed to, step by step, reaching new heights in UCLA football,” athletic director Dan Guerrero said Tuesday in an email to UCLA boosters and donors.
UCLA went 9-5 and earned a trip to the Pac-12 Championship game in Mora’s first season.
As for NFL experience, Mora was 32-34 as an head coach in Atlanta (2004-06) and Seattle (2009). After the 2004 season, he guided the Falcons to the NFC championship game, where they lost to Philadelphia.
He also has worked for the Chargers, starting his career there as an assistant in 1985.
Should Mora decide to leave UCLA, he would reportedly owe the university $3 million if he exits before January 16 and $2.5 million if he leaves after that date.
