UCLA Hires Receiver Coach

UCLA’s football team, near the bottom nationally in total offense last season, now has four coaches with experience as offensive coordinators with the addition of Dino Babers as wide receiver coach.

Babers, who coached running backs at Pittsburgh in 2003, was hired Monday.

In other staff moves, defensive line coach Don Johnson was given the additional responsibility of recruiting coordinator, and receiver coach Jon Embree was switched to tight ends.

Besides Steve Axman, who was offensive coordinator and quarterback coach last season, others with offensive coordinator experience are Babers (Arizona, 1998-2000), Coach Karl Dorrell (Colorado, 1995-98, and Washington, 1999) and new offensive line coach Tom Cable (Colorado, 1999).

“[Babers] has worked with all of the skill positions, giving him a great feel for all aspects of an offense,” Dorrell said.

Although the staff is now complete, Dorrell has not clarified offensive coordinator responsibilities. He said two weeks ago that Axman’s role was being evaluated and suggested that he might take over play-calling.

-- Steve Henson