Navy's Niumatalolo new tight ends coach
UCLA coach Chip Kelly announced that former Navy head coach Ken Niumatalolo was hired as tight ends coach.
Niumatalolo served as the interim tight ends coach for the LA Bowl after the departure of Jeff Faris, who was named as Austin Peay's head football coach in early December.
“Ken is a tremendous example for our program off the field through his character and experiences at the Naval Academy,” Kelly said in a statement. “We are thrilled with the opportunity to add his knowledge and leadership to our tight ends room and coaching staff.”
Kelly had “developed a position” for Niumatalolo, when he initially hired him as the director of leadership last year, which allowed him to work with the players and staff in an off-field role as an advisor.
While serving in that interim role, Kelly confirmed that Niumatalolo had spent time visiting local area schools in search of recruits. He's expected to continue serving as a recruiter for the program in his new role.
Niumatalolo is the Navy's winningest head coach (109-83) and spent 16 seasons at the helm. He also worked as a position coach and offensive coordinator at Navy. Niumatalolo also played quarterback for the Hawai'i from 1987-1989.
He also led the Navy to 11-win seasons in 2015 and 2019 before he was fired in December 2022. Ken's son Ali'i Niumatalolo also works for UCLA as an offensive line graduate assistant.
The tight end position has been a strength for Kelly's offense in recent years and sent Caleb Wilson, Devin Asiasi and Greg Dulcich to the NFL as draft picks from UCLA.
Kelly previously hired Ikaika Malloe as the program's defensive coordinator earlier this week. Kelly still has the quarterbacks and outside linebacker / defensive line jobs vacant on his staff.
Acheampong commits
Ex-Santa Margarita High player Collins Acheampong announced his commitment to UCLA with a post on Instagram on Thursday.
The edge rusher was ranked as a four-star prospect by 247sports as a member of the 2023 class coming out of high school before signing with the University of Miami.
UCLA's director of player personnel Ethan Young indicated with his usual “BOOM!” post on X that a commitment was coming on Dec. 30 but nothing came of the news until four days later with Acheampong's announcement. He is expected to be UCLA's final commitment from the early transfer portal window, which closed on Jan. 2.
The 6-foot-7, 270-pound true sophomore was initially committed to Coach Jim Harbaugh and Michigan in 2022 before flipping his pledge to the Hurricanes.
He spent just one season in Miami and is now headed to Westwood. Acheampong had some level of familiarity with Kelly and UCLA, having taken an official visit in May 2022.
Acheampong is originally from Ghana and moved to California as a freshman to play American football for the first time at Fairmont Prep.
Fairmont Prep's football program disbanded in 2020 and Acheampong continued his career at Santa Margarita. He was named an Under Armour All-American in Nov. 2022 and was invited to play in the showcase game.