LOS ANGELES — On Thursday, UCLA made an official announcement regarding the appointment of Tino Sunseri as their new offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.
Sunseri takes over the role previously held by Eric Bieniemy, who was let go on December 5 after the team struggled significantly, ending the season with one of the poorest offensive performances in the nation.
Before joining UCLA, Sunseri spent a season serving as co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Indiana, having moved there from James Madison alongside head coach Curt Cignetti. During their collaboration over four years, they notably facilitated a successful transition for the Dukes from FCS to FBS competition. The Indiana Hoosiers enjoyed a remarkable season with an 11-1 record, marking their first entry into the College Football Playoff, where they are set to face Notre Dame in the opening round on December 20.
UCLA’s head coach, DeShaun Foster, praised Sunseri in a statement, labeling him as a “natural leader” and a promising figure in coaching. Foster emphasized Sunseri’s ability to ensure that quarterbacks excel, highlighting the visible improvements in player performance. He expressed eagerness to welcome Sunseri into the program, anticipating that the players will thrive under his guidance and enthusiasm for player development.
One of Sunseri’s pressing tasks will be to mitigate further losses due to the transfer portal, as several players, including quarterback Justyn Martin—who was expected to compete for the starting position after Ethan Garbers’ graduation—along with running back T.J. Harden and wide receivers Logan Loya and J. Michael Sturdivant, have already entered the portal.
Foster acknowledged the urgency of recruiting a quarterback, expressing confidence in his ability to fill that position effectively during the transfer period.
At Indiana, Sunseri notably collaborated with quarterback Kurtis Rourke, who transferred from Ohio and enjoyed an outstanding season, leading the Hoosiers to set new single-season records for wins and conference victories. This success paved the way for Indiana’s first-ever appearance in the College Football Playoff.
Sunseri’s coaching background also includes a stint at Alabama as a graduate assistant, giving him experience from 2019 to 2020. His coaching journey spans various programs including Florida State and Tennessee, and he has three years of experience with the CFL’s Saskatchewan Roughriders, securing a Grey Cup championship as a rookie in 2013 after his tenure at the University of Pittsburgh.
Players from UCLA had previously indicated that Bieniemy’s offensive scheme was challenging to comprehend, describing the play calls as overly complicated. In statistical comparisons, UCLA found itself ranked 117th out of 134 Football Bowl Subdivision teams in total offense, averaging 328.8 yards per game, and was 126th in scoring with just 18.4 points per game. Their rushing offense was notably poor, ranking fifth-worst nationally, managing just 86.6 yards per game.
The Bruins finished their first season in the Big Ten with a 5-7 record after a streak of three consecutive bowl qualifications. They marked a troubling statistic as the sixth Power Five team since 2000 to fail to score a minimum of 20 points in their inaugural six games.