Ken Niumatalolo, former Navy HC, joining Chip Kelly’s UCLA staff
Ken Niumatalolo was let go by Navy football after a disappointing 4-8 season in 2022. However, he will be joining another football program for the 2023 season.
Chip Kelly is bringing on Niumatalolo as the Director of Leadership for the football program at UCLA. Niumatalolo had been with Navy since 2007. During his stint at Navy, Niumatalolo led the Midshipmen to 11 bowl game appearances.
The news was made official by a UCLA press release on Friday. Niumatalolo’s role will be to “serve as an advisor to UCLA football’s staff and student-athletes,” according to the press release.
It will be hard to think about Navy Football without Niumatalolo. He coached Navy during its time as an FBS Independent school and a member of the American Athletic Conference.
Niumatalolo is a member of the Polynesian College Hall of Fame and was one of two Polynesian head coaches in the entire FBS.
The former Navy HC played QB at Hawaii and was a graduate assistant there shortly after his college career ended. Other than Navy, the only other place Niumatalolo coached at was UNLV as an assistant from 1999-2001.
Niumatalolo’s all-time record at Navy was 109-83. The experience that he brings to the UCLA football program should be greatly appreciated. Stay tuned for more offseason additions.