UCLA defensive coordinator Bill McGovern is back with the team and expects to coach in the Sun Bowl against Pitt on Friday in El Paso.
McGovern missed the past five games of the season due to an unspecified health issue.
“I’m thrilled to be back,” McGovern said during a press conference Tuesday. “Honestly one of the things that gave me the most energy was being back around the (players) and in the office.”
McGovern slowly worked his way back into his role with the team and was spotted occasionally observing practices and being embraced by players during the season.
While he didn’t want to disclose what kept him away, McGovern confirmed that he expects to be back with the team for the final year of his contract next season.
McGovern was hired to join Chip Kelly’s staff in February, replacing Jerry Azzinaro. He has close to four decades of coaching experience at the college and NFL levels.
He spent seven of the past eight years as an NFL coach, including the 2021 season with the Chicago Bears as the inside linebackers coach.
McGovern mentioned that he would still watch the UCLA games from home during his absence.
“When you coached for 37 years and all of a sudden you think you have a headset at home and you don’t,” McGovern said. “You start yelling at someone at home instead of someone on the other end of the line.”
Defensive analyst Clancy Pendergast finished the season in the coaches’ booth in place of McGovern.
Pendergast has 27 years of coaching experience, which includes 16 years in the NFL, and had previously served as a defensive coordinator for USC and Cal.
Kelly would not confirm whether Pendergast was the defensive play caller during McGovern’s absence but always referred to everything done among the defensive staff as a group effort.
The Bruins are ranked 88th in total defense, allowing 399.8 yards per game. The defense ranked 70th in the nation for total yards allowed per game (384.4) at the end of the 2021 season.
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“I thought they did a phenomenal job,” McGovern said. “The biggest thing is that the (players) were playing hard in the fourth quarter. They were chasing the ball around and making plays.
“I can’t say enough about the job they did. I’ve said it before: On defense, we have a bunch of guys (on staff) that have either been coordinators, will be coordinators or are coordinators. And all of those guys came into play as the season progressed there.”