Report: Chip Kelly, UCLA hire longtime Duke assistant

Jeff Faris – who was most recently the co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Duke – has been hired as UCLA’s new tight ends coach, according to a report from The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman.

Faris, 31, who played safety at Duke from 2008-11, joined the Blue Devils’ coaching staff in 2012 as a graduate assistant and worked his way up to wide receivers coach in 2014.

After spending three seasons in the role of wide receivers coach, Faris added the title of offensive recruiting coordinator and went onto coach tight ends and then quarterbacks while also being the co-offensive coordinator last season.

Following nearly 10 years on Duke’s coaching staff, Faris is now headed to Los Angeles to coach tight ends under Chip Kelly.

UCLA, Chip Kelly come to decision ahead of buyout deadline

UCLA football coach Chip Kelly has signed a new contract extension, per The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman. Kelly was set to enter fifth and final year of his current contract, which earned him $5.6 million in 2021.

The new deal extends the coach four years through 2025. Salary details have yet to be released. The extension was announced just two days before the buyout in Kelly’s current contract was set to drop to zero on Jan. 16.

Kelly had his most successful season with the Bruins yet in 2021, finishing with an 8-4 record. It was his first winning season since taking over in 2018 and the first eight-win season for the program since 2015. UCLA earned a trip to the Holiday Bowl, but pulled out hours before their game against NC State because of COVID-19 problems.

Prior to joining the Bruins, Kelly was the head coach for the Oregon Ducks and NFL’s Philadelphia Eagles. He has compiled a 64-32 overall record as a college coach, including 18-25 in his four seasons at UCLA.

“We are extremely appreciative of the entire UCLA administration for their support of our football program,” Kelly said in a press release. “We have a tremendous amount of gratitude for our players and staff. Their tireless work, and commitment to our vision has built a great foundation. We are excited to continue to build this program into something that makes the UCLA fanbase proud.”

On3’s Chandler Vessels contributed to this report.