UCLA’s revamped coaching staff got another new face Wednesday as the school announced the hire of Jimmie Dougherty as wide receivers coach and passing game coordinator.
Dougherty was an offensive analyst at Michigan last year, where he worked with current UCLA offensive coordinator Jedd Fisch, but left the Wolverines to join Oregon’s coaching staff under new head coach Willie Taggart in December. Dougherty spent just seven weeks in Eugene, Ore., before bolting for Westwood.
Dougherty is the fourth new offensive coach for the Bruins this season, including Fisch, Hank Fraley (offensive line) and DeShaun Foster (running backs). The only remaining offensive coach from the previous year is tight ends coach Rip Scherer.
“Knowing Jimmie since 2009 and having been able to see him in action at practice, during games and in the meeting room, it’s exciting to add a coach of his caliber to our staff,” head coach Jim Mora said in a statement.
Dougherty has Pac-12 coaching experience at Washington, where he coached receivers from 2009-12 under Steve Sarkisian. From 2013-15, he held a number of roles at San Jose State, including assistant head coach, offensive coordinator and passing game coordinator. He started his coaching career at Illinois Wesleyan in 2002 coaching defensive backs for two seasons before moving to San Diego, where he coached five years.
During his short tenure at Oregon, Dougherty helped the Ducks rope in four receivers for their 2017 recruiting class. He is also the second assistant coach to leave within the past week, as co-offensive coordinator and tight ends coach David Reaves resigned Friday following an arrest for multiple traffic violations, including DUI, on Jan. 22. Dougherty was a passenger in the car at the time, according to The Oregonian, but was not charged with any crimes.
The Bruins host Dougherty’s former team Oct. 21.
Inconsistency and dropped passes plagued the UCLA receiving corps last season. While the Bruins ranked third in the Pac-12 in passing offense, no receiver averaged more than 60 receiving yards per game. Darren Andrews led the team with 59.1 yards per game on 4.6 catches, which both ranked 10th in the conference individually.
Former receivers coach Eric Yarber is expected to take the same position for the Los Angeles Rams this coming season.
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