Ben Bolch

Staff Writer

Ben Bolch has been a Los Angeles Times staff writer since 1999. He is serving his second stint as the UCLA beat writer, which seems fitting since he has covered almost every sports beat except hockey and horse racing. Bolch is also the author of the recently released book “100 Things UCLA Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die.” He previously covered UCLA basketball from 2010-11 before going on to cover the NBA and the Clippers for five years. He happily traded in gobs of hotel points and airline miles to return to cover UCLA basketball and football in the summer of 2016. Bolch was once selected by NBA TV’s “The Starters” as the “Worst of the Week” after questioning their celebrity journalism-style questions at an NBA All-Star game and considers it one of his finer moments.

Latest From This Author

UCLA Sports

UCLA boosts 2020 recruiting class with three junior college players

UCLA Sports

UCLA boosts 2020 recruiting class with three junior college players

Rachaad White, a top running back from Mt. San Antonio College, is the third junior college player to join the Bruins’ 2020 recruiting class.
UCLA Sports

UCLA’s players know something Chip Kelly doesn’t when it comes to Stanford

UCLA Sports

UCLA’s players know something Chip Kelly doesn’t when it comes to Stanford

UCLA coach Chip Kelly says he hasn’t been paying attention to how Stanford has dominated the Bruins in recent years, but his players know the score.
UCLA Sports

UCLA coach Chip Kelly on Theo Howard’s transfer: ‘I would do the same thing’

UCLA Sports

UCLA coach Chip Kelly on Theo Howard’s transfer: ‘I would do the same thing’

UCLA senior receiver Theo Howard told his coach that he was leaving and his coach said OK.
UCLA Sports

Smoky conditions leave start of UCLA football practice up in the air

UCLA Sports

Smoky conditions leave start of UCLA football practice up in the air

Smoky air from the nearby Saddleridge fire enveloped UCLA’s campus Saturday, but once a shifting start time was established it seemed to be business as usual.
UCLA Sports

Mick Cronin will try to turn around underachieving UCLA basketball program

UCLA Sports

Mick Cronin will try to turn around underachieving UCLA basketball program

The first-year Bruins coach wants to change their work habits and culture after UCLA has missed the NCAA Tournament two of the past four seasons.
UCLA Sports

UCLA receiver Theo Howard will transfer after sitting out rest of injury-plagued season

UCLA Sports

UCLA receiver Theo Howard will transfer after sitting out rest of injury-plagued season

UCLA senior wide receiver Theo Howard announced Thursday that he would enter the transfer portal, so he can play a final season after fully recovering from hand injuries.
UCLA Sports

Pac-12 commissioner believes Fair Pay to Play Act won’t help women athletes

UCLA Sports

Pac-12 commissioner believes Fair Pay to Play Act won’t help women athletes

Pac-12 Commissioner Larry Scott believes California’s Fair Pay to Play Act will predominantly benefit only high-profile male college athletes.
UCLA Sports

Mick Cronin responds with zingers when it comes to UCLA’s Pac-12 prognosticators

UCLA Sports

Mick Cronin responds with zingers when it comes to UCLA’s Pac-12 prognosticators

UCLA coach Mick Cronin is more concerned about freeway traffic than he is about where college basketball pundits believe the Bruins will finish in the Pac-12.
UCLA Sports

Don’t expect Chip Kelly to quit now; it’s not in his DNA

UCLA Sports

Don’t expect Chip Kelly to quit now; it’s not in his DNA

Disgruntled UCLA fans hoping coach Chip Kelly will admit defeat and quit will not like this: A former colleague says that’s not his style.
UCLA Sports

UCLA fouls up from the get-go in loss to Oregon State

UCLA Sports

UCLA fouls up from the get-go in loss to Oregon State

UCLA trailed by 21 points in the first quarter and tried to rally, but Oregon State didn’t let it slip away in a 48-31 win at the Rose Bowl.