Tables Have Turned, and UCLA, Not USC, Is Looking for a Coach

The bottom line on Hazzard’s regime is that he couldn’t recruit well enough to make up for his lack of coaching experience. Because of his talents as a player, his decade-long pro career, his coaching start came late and in the bushes. Had he been lucky enough to land a J.R. Reid, Scott or Brian Williams, LeRon Ellis, or any combination of legitimate high school talents in addition to Gerald Madkins and Trevor Wilson, he may well have “survived this gig.”

As for Hazzard’s glowering, brooding demeanor, his weakness for the fortress mentality, which some boy scouts in the Westwood hierarchy are apparently offended by, this style never caused John Thompson or any number of other coaches any major problems because they were able to recruit consistently well and win impressively. Hazzard never did.

CHARLES CHICCOA

West Hollywood