UCLA hires Tony Washington Jr. as defensive line coach
On Friday, UCLA announced Tony Washington Jr. will be the program’s next defensive line/outside linebacker coach.
Prior to joining UCLA, Washington was a graduate assistant at his alma mater, Oregon. Washington will replace Ikaika Malloe, who handled defensive line duties this past year and was promoted a week ago to defensive coordinator.
Washington is from Southern California, but that isn’t his only link to the Bruins. Washington was a standout outside linebacker for Oregon from 2010-14, Washington suited up for the Ducks during the final three seasons of Chip Kelly’s tenure as their head coach.
Washington started his coaching career in 2019 after spending parts of four years with the NFL’s Houston Texans and Tennessee Titans. Kelly is proud to reunite with a former student of his.
“It’s been exciting to watch Tony develop throughout the years,” Kelly said, per the school’s press release. “I can’t wait to see what he does with our players.”
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Washington earned his spot on UCLA’s staff. Washington helped Oregon lead the Pac-12 and rank ninth nationally for scoring defense in 2023, allowing just 16.5 points per game. The 117.61 passing efficiency put forth by opposing quarterbacks was also the conference’s best mark (13th overall).
In 2022, Washington led a unit that intercepted the second-most passes in the conference and 10th-most overall (16), while ranking third among Pac-12 teams and 22nd nationally in red-zone defense (.667).
Washington held an off-field position in 2021, serving as the Ducks’ director of player development. Nonetheless, Washington’s experience isn’t limited to the Pac-12.
Washington started his coaching career in the Big Ten Conference, spending the 2019 and 2020 campaigns as a graduate assistant at the University of Nebraska. He earned a master’s degree in leadership education during his time in Lincoln.
UCLA needs all the defensive help it can find. After only spending one season with the Bruins, former defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn left UCLA to join USC in the same capacity.
In total, Lynn spent less than a year at UCLA. He was hired as defensive coordinator for UCLA football on Feb. 27, 2023 and hired by UCLA on Dec. 1. Lynn’s move came only days after a report emerged solidifying Chip Kelly as the program’s head coach next season despite initial rumors.