Mon Jan 21 13:57:03 2008

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UCLA names Chow offensive coordinator

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Los Angeles, CA (Sports Network) - UCLA has named Norm Chow its new offensive coordinator.

Chow will return to the southern California area, where he has a home, and the Pac-10. He spent the past three seasons as the offensive coordinator for the NFL's Tennessee Titans after a highly-successful four-year run as the offensive coordinator at USC.

"Norm brings great offensive expertise to the job," said new UCLA head coach Rick Neuheisel. "He has enjoyed tremendous success throughout his career and has been the architect of some of the most explosive offenses in college football history. We are thrilled that Norm has decided to become a Bruin. What youngster who plays offense in high school wouldn't be excited about playing for a school with Norm Chow as its offensive coordinator?"

Chow helped the rival Trojans to national championships in 2003 and 2004 during his four seasons with Pete Carroll. He tutored Heisman Trophy winners Matt Leinart and Carson Palmer at USC, while helping Vince Young make the transition from a college star at Texas to NFL starter with the Titans.

The 61-year-old long-time assistant had interviewed for UCLA's head coaching position prior to Neuheisel's hiring. He will try to turn around a lethargic Bruins offense which ranked only ahead of Stanford in both total offense and scoring in the Pac-10.

In addition to four years at USC, Chow has also coached on the collegiate level at BYU and North Carolina State. He was an assistant at BYU for 27 years, 18 of which he spent as offensive coordinator, and was part of the Cougar staff that won a national championship in 1984.

Chow had recently signed a two-year extension with the Titans, but was fired on January 14.