Wed Jan 01 22:30:00 UTC 2025: ## UCLA Running Backs Coach Departs, Leaving Team in Further Quandary

**Los Angeles, CA** – UCLA’s football program is facing further challenges in the running back position, with the announcement that running backs coach Marcus T. Thomas is leaving the program after just one season. Thomas, who previously held various roles within the UCLA football program and at Navy, made the announcement via social media. His departure leaves the Bruins without a single returning offensive position coach for the upcoming season.

This news comes on the heels of the loss of starting running back T.J. Harden to the transfer portal. The team’s running game already struggled last season, ranking worst in the Pac-12 with a meager 86.6 rushing yards per game. With Harden gone and no replacement secured through the transfer portal, and now the departure of their coach, the running back room is a major concern heading into the 2025 season.

UCLA will need to find a new running backs coach and significantly improve its ground game to have a successful season. While the team has a new offensive coordinator and coaches for other offensive positions, the lack of experience and the existing weaknesses in the running game pose a significant hurdle for the Bruins. The team’s head coach, however, is a former standout running back for UCLA.

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