UCLA hires ex-Navy coach Ken Niumatalolo for advisory role

UCLA has hired former Navy football coach Ken Niumatalolo as the Bruins' director of leadership, the school announced Friday.

Niumatalolo, Navy's winningest head coach, was fired at his locker after the Midshipmen's 20-17 double-overtime loss to rival Army in Philadelphia in December.

In his new role, Niumatalolo — who had a reputation for graduating his players, his honest approach and avoiding NCAA infractions — will serve as an adviser to UCLA football's staff and players, according to the school's release.

Niumatalolo told ESPN on Friday that although there were some other opportunities more specific to a coaching title, UCLA «felt right» to him because of previous ties to the area. There were also strong connections with the current staff, including his son, former Utah tight end Ali'i Niumatalolo, who was recently hired as an offensive line graduate assistant. Former Navy assistant coach Bryce McDonald is UCLA football's chief of staff, and UCLA assistant coach Brian Norwood is one of Niumatalolo's best friends.

«I feel blessed,» said Niumatalolo, who has recruited the West Coast his entire career. «I'm really excited to work with coach [Chip] Kelly. I don't feel like UCLA is far off. He and I talked some of his vision of what he sees in the position I'm really excited about.

»It just tells you about how he is as a coach. He's an established coach, he's not threatened by me or anything, he's not worried about somebody looking over his shoulder. That's how Chip looks at it — anything I can add. They're not far off, whatever I can bring, but it just felt right."

During 15 seasons leading Navy, where he finished with a 109-83 record, Niumatalolo won six of 10 bowl games, both school records. No head coach had won