Rick Neuheisel did not get the Washington State football job that he was seemingly interested in, Neuheisel did return to the coaching game, getting hired as the Dallas Renegades new head coach on Tuesday.
Neuheisel made it clear that he has missed coaching, so it’s not too much of a surprise to see that he’s returning to the profession. He’s returning at the UFL level, while Neuheisel is a newbie to the UFL, he did coach in the AAF for the Arizona Hotshots back in 2019, leading the team to a 5-3 record. The AAF filed for bankruptcy after the 2019 season, ending Neuheisel’s tenure with the team.
Neuheisel coached the UCLA Bruins from 2008-2011, leading the team to just a 21-29 record, with just one winning season in four years. Neuheisel’s son, Jerry Neuheisel, has been a part of the UCLA staff in recent years, but that may be coming to a close with Bob Chesney bringing over much of his own staff. Jerry Neuheisel had good results when he took over as the Bruins offensive playcaller in 2025 but Chesney brought in a new offensive coordinator in Dean Kennedy.
Despite being out of coaching for six years, Neuheisel is ready for the challenge. Despite never having a winning regular season, the Renegades won the 2023 XFL championship as the Arlington Renegades.
“People ask if I miss coaching, and I say that every day. It’s about the ability to put together goals and strive for them,” Neuheisel said in the team’s release. “And when you fall short, you figure out what you did wrong and strive again. When you finally reach the goal, you celebrate, and then look forward to the next goal. I’m at a point where the timing couldn’t be better.”
This article originally appeared on UCLA Wire: Rick Neuheisel’s return: Bruin named coach of Dallas Renegades
Reporting by Dylan McNeill, UCLA Wire / UCLA Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
