After spending a year as UCLA’s director of leadership, Ken Niumatalolo has agreed to a new position for the 2024 season.
Niumatalolo, who led Navy’s football program from 2007-2022, is officially UCLA’s tight ends coach. That move was made official on Friday afternoon.
This won’t be the first time Niumatalolo coaches that position group. He was UNLV’s tight ends coach from 1999-2001.
UCLA head coach Chip Kelly released a brief statement on Niumatalolo’s new role.
“Ken is a tremendous example for our program off the field through his character and experiences at the Naval Academy,” Kelly said. “We are thrilled with the opportunity to add his knowledge and leadership to our tight ends room and coaching staff.”
𝗞𝗲𝗻 𝗡𝗶𝘂𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗹𝗼 𝗻𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗱 𝗧𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗘𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝗖𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗨𝗖𝗟𝗔 𝗙𝗼𝗼𝘁𝗯𝗮𝗹𝗹! #GoBruins
𝗠𝗢𝗥𝗘: https://t.co/WDqAI4vhpi pic.twitter.com/52togc6N6u
— UCLA Football (@UCLAFootball) January 5, 2024
Niumatalolo is replacing Jeff Faris, who left UCLA to become Austin Peay’s head coach. Faris left the Bruins on Dec. 9.
UCLA leaned on Niumatalolo ahead of the LA Bowl. Clearly, the program liked what they saw from the tight ends group under his leadership.