Wednesday, February 24, 1999
Football briefs
New defensive coordinator takes the field
Bob Field, previously the Bruins’ outside linebacker coach, has
been promoted to be UCLA’s new defensive coordinator. The position
opened up when last year’s coordinator, Nick Allioti, accepted the
same position with the University of Oregon Ducks.
Field has already had a crack at the defensive coordinator job,
holding the responsibilities for 14 years under head coach Bob
Toledo’s predecessor, Terry Donahue. When Toledo took over, Field
was moved to coach the linebackers.
"Coach Field has had successful defenses in the past. I felt we
had a lot of qualified people within the program, we didn’t need to
hire anybody from the outside," said Toledo.
Field is known for developing top talent, including, Carnell
Lake, Larry Atkins, Donnie Edwards, Jamir Miller and Marvcus
Patton. In 1988, UCLA was ranked eighth nationally in rushing
defense, and Field’s unit held Arkansas to just 42 yards of total
offense in the 1989 Cotton Bowl.
Pearce to become
assistant coach
To fill the position vacated by the promotion of assistant coach
Bob Field, UCLA hired Stephen F. Austin’s head football coach, John
Pearce.
Pearce compiled a 46-32-2 record while consistently keeping the
Lumberjacks at the top of the toughest conference in Division I-AA.
Stephen F. Austin, with a record of 40-16-2, was the only Division
I school in Texas to have a winning record in each of the past five
seasons.
Prior to coaching at Stephen F. Austin, Pearce worked under
Toledo (the offensive coordinator during that time) for three
seasons, tutoring running backs and tight ends.
Only 11 months until signing day
UCLA got a head start on next year’s recruiting class by
snagging a verbal commitment from Tim Warfield, a 6-foot-4-inch,
225 pound inside linebacker from Vista, Calif.
Warfield’s grandfather played for Red Sanders at UCLA, and Tim’s
father told Student Sports magazine about a request the late UCLA
football coach had.
"My father played for Red Sanders, and when he was practically
on his death bed, he said ‘Give me a grandson and send him to
UCLA,’" said Warfield’s father.
Tim led his high school team in tackles and made the all-state
underclass team. Warfield was also the top recruit in the San Diego
area for the Bruins.
"They offered him last year, the only player offered in the
area," said Warfield’s father. "We’ve talked with (linebacker
coach) Dove, and we’re very excited to play for him. UCLA is a
great school and Tim figured ‘Why waste anyone’s time?’ since he’s
always wanted to play for the Bruins."
Notes compiled by Greg Lewis, Daily Bruin staff
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