UCLA PUTS FUTURE IN NEUHEISEL'S HANDS COLLEGE FOOTBALL: FORMER UCLA QB IS NAMED HEAD COACH.

Byline: Brian Dohn

Staff Writer

The running joke among many of UCLA's coaches is that the school's letters actually stand for the University of Compliance, at Los Angeles.

That theory is about to get tested with UCLA's announcement Saturday naming Rick Neuheisel, a former UCLA quarterback and the Baltimore Ravens' offensive coordinator until the end of today, as its new football coach after a 27-day search for Karl Dorrell's replacement.

The compliance at issue is with the rules of the Pacific-10 Conference, as well as the NCAA. And during both of Neuheisel's previous head coaching stops, at the University of Colorado and the University of Washington, NCAA compliance violations were part of his tenure.

"I realize my mistakes and am ready to move on," Neuheisel said during an afternoon conference call. "You have my complete, unequivocal promise that this will never take place again."

Although details of the contract must be worked out, Neuheisel agreed to a five-year deal worth a guaranteed $1.25 million annually. His contract will also include the chance for $500,000 per year in bonuses tied to academics and on-field performance.

"There's a lot of work to be done, and I'm anxious to get my hands involved in it," Neuheisel said. "But there's going to be a moment where I sit back in a chair in the Morgan Center (UCLA's athletic building) and kick myself as to how lucky I am to be back home and hopefully pick up the flag where the other great Bruins laid it off for me to run with."

But in making the decision to hire the 46-year-old Neuheisel, athletic director Dan Guerrero seems to be gambling that a wily, energetic and personable coach has learned from his misdeeds of the past.

Neuheisel brings a 66-30 career mark during his eight years at Colorado and Washington, and the type of personality to combat USC coach Pete Carroll in recruiting battles. He has won a Rose Bowl, a Cotton Bowl and a Holiday Bowl.

However, Neuheisel brings a checkered past, which resulted in Colorado being put on probation and his termination from Washington.

While at Colorado, the NCAA concluded more than 50 minor violations took place, many of them in recruiting, and the school was placed on two years' probation. He committed several more NCAA violations at Washington, then was fired for his role in an NCAA men's basketball tournament betting pool. He then sued the NCAA and Washington, and won a joint $4.5 million settlement.

"As we began the process, Rick's past transgressions were very much an issue for me," Guerrero said. "I think it's important to note -- that the cornerstone of our program is, always has been and will continue to be based on integrity, and the hiring of Rick does not change that core value at all.

"In fact, after what Rick has experienced, especially as we were able to glean his thoughts, relative to our conversations, I firmly believe he embraces this and looks forward to being in an environment that is built on that premise."

Guerrero's move to hire Neuheisel seems to be a reversal of field from when he fired Bob Toledo five years ago. At the time, UCLA was consistently being publicly embarrassed by off-the-field transgressions, including arrests, the infamous handicapped-parking scandal and DeShaun Foster's SUV fiasco.

When firing Toledo, Guerrero said, "It's all about having the right environment. I didn't want to create a situation where the first transgression -- would dredge up some really negative things in this program."

In explaining why he believed Neuheisel is reformed, and in stating many of the violations were five to 10 years go, Guerrero said committing violations is inbred in any collegiate sports program.

Guerrero said there was no extraordinary provision put into Neuheisel's contract calling for zero tolerance when it came to NCAA violations, although each coach's contract has NCAA behavioral issues in it.

"I think in every program in America -- and not just talking about football, I'm talking about every sport -- you're going to have transgressions," Guerrero said. "Secondary violations are things that occur. They occur because other institutions will discover them in the course of their recruiting, or whatever the case may be.

"Sometimes your own coaches realize they did something they should not have done. Sometimes there are misinterpretations of rules and regulations."

In getting Neuheisel, though, the Bruins believe they have the counter-agent to the stoic, introverted personality of Dorrell that caused much rancor among UCLA's supporters.

Neuheisel is known for his charisma, from the time he was a walk-on quarterback who, with food-poisoning, led the Bruins to a 1984 Rose Bowl win against Illinois, to his time as a 34-year-old fireball of a coach at Colorado.

He had the support of many of UCLA's influential alumni, including a multitude of former players. However, current players know little about Neuheisel.

"I don't really know him," UCLA offensive lineman Aleksey Lanis said. "I know he coached at Washington and Colorado, and what I heard about him on ESPN. I haven't met him, and I don't know too much about him. I would definitely love to meet him."

Neuheisel was selected ahead of UCLA defensive coordinator DeWayne Walker and Philadelphia Eagles assistant John Harbaugh for the job, but certainly was not UCLA's first choice. UCLA was rebuffed in attempts to hire Boise State's Chris Petersen and Oregon's Mike Bellotti.

In addition, the exhaustive search included contact with dozens of candidates, including former West Virginia and current Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez and Dallas Cowboys offensive coordinator Jason Garrett, sources said.

"I think Rick is a great hire for UCLA," said Terry Donahue, who was Neuheisel's college coach. "He knows the UCLA situation as well as anybody. Rick is a proven head coach with a very successful record in the Pac-10 and he will be able to compete with any team in the conference. ... A lot of the former players and alumni will be excited about this hire."

[e-mail]

RICHARD GERALD NEUHEISEL JR.

EDUCATION

Earned BA from UCLA (1984) and law degree from USC (1990).

FAMILY

Wife Susan, sons Jerry, Jack and Joe.

EARLY DAYS

Born Feb. 7, 1961, in Madison, Wis. Grew up inTempe, Ariz., and quarterbacked McClintock High to two state titles.

AS A UCLA PLAYER (1980-83)

Walk-on became starting quarterback in his senior season and led UCLA to Rose Bowl victory over Illinois, throwing two touchdown passes to Karl Dorrell.

AS A PRO PLAYER (1984-87)

Played two seasons with USFL's San Antonio Gunslingers and three games in 1987 strike season with NFL's San Diego Chargers; joined Tampa Bay Buccaneers late in '87 but didn't play.

AS A COLLEGE COACH (1995-2002)

Began as a UCLA assistant coach. Head coach of Colorado for four seasons, compiling a 33-14 record and two top-10 finishes in national polls (before forfeiting five wins in 1997 because of an ineligible player). Head coach of Washington for four seasons, going 33-16 and leading Huskies to 2000 Pac-10 championship and No. 3 ranking.

AS A PRO COACH (2005-07)

Served as Baltimore Ravens quarterbacks coach in 2006 (when team went 13-3) and offensive coordinator in 2007 (4-11).

- Daily News

CAPTION(S):

5 photos, box

Photo:

(1 -- color) Rick Neuheisel was 66-30 in eight seasons at Colorado and Washington but ran afoul of NCAA rules at both school.

Ted S. Warren/The Associated Press

(2) AS A PLAYER

(3) AS A COLLEGE COACH

(4 -- ran in Final edition only) AS A PRO COACH

(5) AS A PRO COACH

From left, photos by Associated Press; Stephen Dunn/Getty Images; Doug Benc/Getty Images; Otto Greule Jr./Getty Images

Box:

RICHARD GERALD NEUHEISEL JR. (see text)