UCLA agrees to terms of new contract with member of their coaching staff

UCLA and defensive backs coach/assistant head coach Brian Norwood have agreed to terms on a new contract through the 2023 season, sources tell On3’s Matt Menitz. UCLA held three of their final four opponents during the 2021-2022 season to less than 180 passing yards. Quentin Lake and Jay Shaw each tied for the team lead with three interceptions, and both received all-Pac-12 recognition. The Bruins ranked 42nd in the nation in pass efficiency defense.

Norwood joined the Bruins coaching staff in January of 2020. In the 2020 season, the team led the Pac-12 in interceptions with nine. He arrived at UCLA after spending some time at Navy during the 2019 season as their co-defensive coordinator/cornerbacks coach. Navy won their bowl game over Kansas State in the Liberty Bowl to finish with an 11-2 record, tying the program’s record for most wins in a season.

UCLA making more news on the coaching front

UCLA football was making a splash in more ways than one on Thursday, as the team is reportedly hiring former Hall of Famer, Ken Norton, Jr. as their linebackers coach. The news was announced on Twitter via The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman.

Norton starred for UCLA from 1984-87 and helped the Bruins to four straight bowl games over his time in Westwood. He ranks sixth in program history with 339 career tackles and was inducted into the UCLA Hall of Fame in 1998.

After his collegiate career, Norton played in the NFL from 1988-2000 with the Dallas Cowboys and San Francisco 49ers. During that time, he won three Super Bowls and made three Pro Bowl appearances before jumping into coaching in 2004 with USC.

Norton worked for the Trojans from 2004-09 as linebackers coach and, eventually, assistant head coach before heading to the Seattle Seahawks as linebackers coach. He remained in that role from 2010-14 before heading to Oakland as a defensive coordinator.

On3’s Nick Schultz also contributed to this story.