Kristian Ferrell
UCLA has a rich history in college basketball, with 11 national championships and a host of NCAA records. However, in recent years, they have struggled to replicate this success, and their fan base has grown apathetic. The Bruins have been living off past glories and have a relatively small budget, making it challenging to attract top coaches. In their search for a new coach, names like Billy Donovan, Tony Bennett, and Jamie Dixon have been mentioned, but it remains uncertain if UCLA can secure their services. UCLA recently hired Dave Andrews as their new director of athletic performance, and he will be crucial in improving the team's performance ahead of the next season.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the Coach | Dave Andrews |
| Position | Director of Athletic Performance |
| UCLA Team | Men's Basketball |
| Previous Work Experience | Strength, conditioning, and athletic performance coach across several college football or basketball programs, Performance Coach for Cincinnati men's basketball team, Coach for Iowa State football, Pittsburgh football, Illinois football, and Notre Dame football |
| Education | Played tight end for Ohio State football in the early 2000s, helping the Buckeyes win a national championship in 2002 |
| UCLA's Head Coach | Mick Cronin |
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What You'll Learn
UCLA's next basketball coach
UCLA is one of the most successful college basketball programs in history, with 11 national championships and a host of other NCAA records. However, the Bruins have not been at the same level as other top teams in recent years and have been living off past glories.
In 2018, UCLA was looking for a new coach after Steve Alford was fired following five tricky seasons that included three Sweet 16 appearances but also two calls for his firing. UCLA will likely have to raise its budget to attract the right candidate. One name that has been mentioned is Jamie Dixon, who led Pittsburgh to the NCAA tournament in 11 of his 13 seasons and has turned around the TCU Horned Frogs, leading them to their first NCAA appearance in 20 seasons. Another potential candidate is Tony Bennett, who is regarded as one of the best college basketball coaches despite becoming the first 1-seed to lose in the first round last March. He has guided the Virginia Cavaliers to at least 29 wins in four of the past five seasons, but it is unclear if he would leave Charlottesville for the high-pressure environment of UCLA.
Other potential candidates mentioned include Billy Donovan, who has NBA experience and a free-flowing offensive style, and Hoiberg, a client of UCLA booster Casey Wasserman. However, Hoiberg built up Iowa State with transfers and under-the-radar players, which may be difficult to replicate at UCLA.
In June 2024, UCLA hired Dave Andrews as their new director of athletic performance. Andrews has worked in strength, conditioning, and athletic performance across several college football and basketball programs and previously worked with Bruins head coach Mick Cronin at Cincinnati.
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Tony Bennett, Virginia Cavaliers
Tony Bennett is a retired basketball coach who led the Virginia Cavaliers to unprecedented and consistent success during his 15 seasons in charge. He became the Cavaliers' head coach in 2009 and retired in 2024, just 18 days before the opening tip-off.
Under Bennett, the Cavaliers won their first NCAA national championship in 2019, posting a school-record 35 wins and earning a share of their ninth ACC regular-season title. They also advanced to the NCAA Elite Eight in 2016 and the NCAA Sweet Sixteen in 2014 and 2015. In addition, the Cavaliers recorded their first 30-win season under Bennett in 2014 and claimed the ACC regular-season and tournament titles. Bennett was named U.S. Basketball Writers Association District 3 Coach of the Year in 2012 and 2020, and ACC Coach of the Year in 2014 and 2015. He became the sixth coach in ACC history to win at least three outright ACC regular-season titles.
Bennett guided the Cavaliers to impressive victories over top-ranked teams, including a 53-43 win over eventual national champions No. 5 North Carolina, and a 71-55 win over No. 4 ranked Louisville. He was also named the 2019 College Basketball Person of the Year by The Athletic, who praised the five pillars that set the foundation for the Virginia program.
Bennett's decision to retire was influenced by the current environment in college basketball, specifically citing the state of unregulated NIL money and transfers as reasons for his departure. He expressed his desire to remain involved with the Virginia program in a part-time role and to advocate for student-athletes and coaches in the ever-changing college sports landscape.
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Billy Donovan
UCLA is known for its basketball team's past successes, but the university has struggled in recent years to find a coach that can bring the team back to its glory days. One candidate that fits the bill is Billy Donovan, a Long Island, New York native who played basketball at St. Agnes Cathedral High School in Rockville Centre. Donovan's talent was evident early on, as he led his high school team to the Long Island Catholic High School Championship during his senior year.
After high school, Donovan accepted an athletic scholarship to Providence College in Rhode Island, where he flourished under coach Pitino's system. He was named the Friars' starting point guard during his junior year, averaging 15.1 points per game and earning the nickname "Billy the Kid" from fans. During his senior year, he improved even further, averaging over 20 points and 7 assists per game and leading his team to the 1987 Final Four.
Donovan was drafted by the Utah Jazz in the 1987 NBA draft but was waived before the regular season began. He then began his coaching career, starting as an assistant coach at Marshall University. In 1994, the University of Florida's basketball team reached their first Final Four under coach Lon Kruger, but the team's performance slipped in subsequent years. In March 1996, Kruger resigned, and Florida's athletic director Jeremy Foley sought a young and energetic coach to bring sustained success to the program.
After a wide-ranging search, 30-year-old Billy Donovan was hired as the new head coach, signing a six-year contract. Donovan's first two seasons were challenging, with records of 13-17 and 15-16, but he gradually improved the team's performance. By his third season, the Gators were invited to the National Invitation Tournament (NIT), and Donovan's relentless recruiting and coaching style began to pay off. Over two seasons, his Marshall teams compiled a 35-20 record, and he is known for his ability to develop young talent and bring sustained success to the programs he leads.
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UCLA's budget for the right candidate
UCLA has a relatively small budget for a power conference school. In 2019, football and men's basketball accounted for 84.4% of UCLA's revenue brought in by athletic teams. As a result, coaches of these sports tend to have the highest salaries. In 2020, the two highest-paid employees from any UC school were Chip Kelly and Mick Cronin, who earned $4.3 million and $4.2 million, respectively.
UCLA's current head basketball coach, Michael Walter "Mick" Cronin, was hired in 2019. In his first season with the Bruins in 2019-2020, Cronin was named the Pac-12 Coach of the Year. The following year, his team went to the Final Four. In March 2022, Cronin's contract was extended for six years to the 2027-28 season. He earned a $2 million retention payment in 2025 and is set to receive another $2 million when his contract expires in 2028.
UCLA's willingness to pay a high salary for the right candidate for head basketball coach is further demonstrated by the salaries of previous coaches. For example, in 2019, UCLA paid Steve Alford a $3.6 million buyout for men's basketball. Additionally, the university paid Jim Mora a $12 million buyout for football over 2018 and 2019.
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UCLA's new director of athletic performance
UCLA has a new director of athletic performance: Dave Andrews. Andrews is an elite strength, conditioning, and performance coach with experience in several college football and basketball programs. He played tight end for Ohio State football in the early 2000s, helping the Buckeyes win a national championship in 2002.
Andrews has worked with UCLA Bruins head coach Mick Cronin before when Cronin was the head coach for Cincinnati men's basketball. He served as the team's performance coach from 2006 to 2012. Andrews has also coached for Iowa State football, Pittsburgh football, Illinois football, and Notre Dame football.
Andrews joins a revamped Bruins team looking to improve after a disappointing 2023-24 campaign. The team failed to qualify for the NCAA Tournament, and UCLA will be looking to Andrews and several other new faces on the roster and staff to help turn things around. These include Kobe Johnson, Trent Perry, Skyy Clark, Eric Dailey Jr., Dominick Harris, Tyler Bilodeau, and William Kyle III.
Andrews is excited to join UCLA's storied program and reconnect with Coach Cronin. He is expected to have an immediate impact on the team's performance.
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Frequently asked questions
UCLA hired Dave Andrews as their new director of athletic performance in June 2024.
Dave Andrews is an elite strength, conditioning, and performance coach. He has worked in strength, conditioning, and athletic performance across several college football or basketball programs after playing tight end for Ohio State football in the early 2000s.
In 2018, Tony Bennett, Virginia Cavaliers coach, and Billy Donovan were considered strong candidates for the role.
Tony Bennett seems very content in Charlottesville, and Billy Donovan was signed through the end of the 2019 season with Oklahoma City.
UCLA is one of the most successful college basketball programs in history, so the expectations are high. The new coach should be able to turn the team's performance around and build on UCLA's legacy.
