Just as UCLA is preparing for its first season playing in the Big Ten Conference, football coach Chip Kelly will leave the Bruins to take an offensive coordinator position at Big Ten powerhouse Ohio State University.
Kelly informed UCLA officials Friday morning that he is leaving the Bruins, according to the university.
"I want to sincerely thank Chip for his service to UCLA football and our student-athletes across the past six seasons and wish the best to him and his wife Jill moving forward," UCLA Athletic Director Martin Jarmond said in a statement.
According to multiple media reports, Kelly will be taking over the OSU offensive coordinator position from Bill O'Brien, who is expected to be named Friday the next coach at Boston College.
No official announcement had been made by OSU as of midday Friday.
Kelly amassed a 35-34 record in his six seasons leading the Bruins. He was hired at the end of the 2017 following the ouster of coach Jim Mora.
Kelly was 46-7 in four seasons as coach of the Oregon Ducks, leading that team to an appearance in the 2011 BCS title game, but losing to Auburn. His Oregon teams were famous for their high-octane, high-paced offense, running a record number of plays and averaging nearly 50 points per game in 2012.
Kelly left Oregon following the 2012 season to become the Philadelphia Eagles coach, five months before Oregon was placed on NCAA probation for its use of football scouting services.
The Eagles won the NFC Eastern Division championship in his first season.
Philadelphia went 10-6 in 2014, but missed the playoffs. Kelly was fired with one game left in the 2015 season when the Eagles record was 6-9.
Kelly was then hired as coach of the San Francisco 49ers in 2016 but fired after the team went 2-14. He spent the 2017 season as an studio analyst for ESPN, discussing college and NFL games.
A move to Ohio State would reunite Kelly with OSU Coach Ryan Day. Day played quarterback at the University of New Hampshire while Kelly was the offensive coordinator. Day later returned to the school as the tight ends coach, working with Kelly. Day was also the quarterbacks coach under Kelly at the 49ers in 2016.
Jarmond said the search for Kelly's replacement has already begun.
"It is imperative that we support our student-athletes and put them in the best position to succeed," Jarmond said. "UCLA is a special place, and we are confident we will find a leader for our football program who develops young men on and off the field and embodies our True Bruin Values."
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