Eric Bieniemy fired by UCLA, agent says it was a mutual split

UCLA ousted offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy on Thursday, although his camp has a different story.

ESPN and Yahoo Sports initially reported that UCLA fired Bieniemy, although his agent, Jason Fletcher, has denied that the split was anything other than mutual.

“Eric and UCLA mutually parted ways today as previously planned,” Fletcher said in a statement. “He’s still getting paid by the Commanders. After interviewing for head coaching jobs last year, he wanted to stay active and busy. So, he decided to go help out Deshaun Foster, who is like his little brother, at UCLA as opposed to sitting out a year.

“The plan was always to return to the NFL in 2025, and he’s looking forward to the opportunities ahead.”

Eric Bieniemy was fired by UCLA, according to reports. Getty Images

ESPN further reports that offensive line coach Juan Castillo is also being relieved of his duties.

The statement on this being mutual is quite curious, considering he has a reported $1.2 million buyout of his contract.

Bieniemy, a former NFL running back like Foster, was the recruiting coordinator for UCLA in 2003, lasting until 2005, and was the maestro credited with finding future NFL stalwart Maurice Jones-Drew.

Foster and UCLA hoped that Bieniemy would use his NFL experience as an offensive coordinator for multi-time Super Bowl champion Chiefs to help develop that side of the ball and attract highly rated recruits.

The results were a disaster no matter how his agent slices wants to spin it.

Eric Bieniemy was Patrick Mahomes’ offensive coordinator from 2018-2022. Getty Images

The Bruins were ranked 126th nationally in points per game, and 247 Sports rates their recruiting class as the 50th best in the country, behind the likes of Houston, West Virginia and North Carolina State.

Their recruiting rank was 90th in 2024 and 37th in 2023.

The Bruins went 5-7 after 8-4 and 9-3 showings the two years prior.

UCLA’s offense was among the worst in the FBS. Getty Images

Bieniemy previously acted as the Washington Commanders offensive coordinator before being let go after one season.

He was the offensive coordinator for the Chiefs from 2018-22 but has yet to get a chance as a head coach, despite leading Kansas City’s offense with Patrick Mahomes’ development being largely under Andy Reid’s tutelage.