Former Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy is moving to the college ranks

Eric Bieniemy, who has been unable to secure a head coaching position in the NFL, is returning to the collegiate levels. ESPN and CBS Sports both reported that Bieniemy has been hired as UCLA’s associate head coach and offensive coordinator. Bieniemy, who spent ten years on Chiefs coach Andy Reid’s staff until becoming offensive coordinator for the Washington Commanders last season, attended high school in La Puente, California, just outside of Los Angeles, so he’s back to a familiar territory.

“I have had countless conversations and interviews with many teams and I have been applauded and lauded,” Bieniemy was quoted by ESPN. “I can’t say why certain decisions were or were not made, but it had nothing to do with a lack of anything on my end. “My dignity, value, integrity, personality, and manhood will never be called into question or compromised. It’s not always about money, either. Everything in life is often a matter of time. At this point in my life, the chance allows me to continue being a maker and leader of men, to do what I enjoy, to pursue my passions and aspirations without compromising who I am as a guy.

UCLA was among Bieniemy’s first trips in his coaching career. He was the Bruins’ running backs coach from 2003 to 2005. Bieniemy was hired as a running backs coach by Chiefs coach Reid in 2013, following stints with the Vikings and the University of Colorado. Following five seasons, he was elevated to offensive coordinator.

Bieniemy, 54, had interviews with multiple NFL teams about their vacant head-coaching jobs while with the Chiefs, but he wasn’t hired. After the Chiefs won Super Bowl LVII, Bieniemy joined the Commanders staff as offensive coordinator/assistant head coach. Now he’s poised to join new UCLA coach DeShaun Foster’s staff. “This is a great opportunity for me to help support DeShaun as a new head coach, to work with him and for him as well,” Bieniemy told CBS Sports. “I chose to fly under the radar during this hiring process, and my experience generated a lot of interest from a number of NFL teams prior to coming to this decision. “… This is a great opportunity to work at a historical institution that has produced a number of successful alums in many different professions across the board. It is an opportunity for my family and I to return back to a place we once called home. This is a great opportunity for me to utilize all of my experience working with future Hall of Fame players and a Hall of Fame head coach (Reid) to help teach and inspire young men what it takes to be successful on and off the field.”