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Jim L. Mora

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Jim L. Mora
File:Jim L Mora mora 10o.jpg
Mora in November 2006
Current position
TitleHead coach
TeamUCLA
ConferencePac-12
Record19–8  (.704)
Annual salary$1,935,000[1]
Biographical details
Born (1961-11-19) November 19, 1961 (age 62)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Alma materUniversity of Washington,
B.S. 1984
Playing career
Position(s)Defensive back / Linebacker
Head coaching record
Overall19–8 (.704), college
32–34 (.485), NFL
Tournaments1–1 (NFL playoffs)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
1 NFC South (2004)
Pac-12 South Division Champions (2012)

James Lawrence "Jim" Mora (born November 19, 1961) is an American football coach, currently the head coach at UCLA of the Pac-12 Conference. Mora was the head coach of the NFL's Atlanta Falcons from 2004 to 2006 and Seattle Seahawks in 2009. Prior to the 2008 season, the Seahawks signed Mora to a five-year contract and announced him as the successor to Mike Holmgren in 2009. After a 5–11 record in his only season as the Seahawks head coach, Mora was fired on January 8, 2010. After a two-year hiatus from coaching as an analyst for the NFL Network and broadcaster for Fox Sports, Mora became the UCLA Bruins' head coach on December 10, 2011, replacing the recently fired Rick Neuheisel.

Mora played college football at the University of Washington from 1980 to 1983, and began his coaching career there as a graduate assistant in 1984. He is the son of retired NFL head coach, Jim E. Mora.

Early years and playing career

As the son of an assistant coach in college football, Mora lived in various locations in the West as a child: primarily in Boulder, Colorado (ages 7–12) and also in California, mostly in the Los Angeles area. When Mora was 12, his father left Colorado after the 1973 season to join the staff at UCLA under first-year head coach Dick Vermeil.

After one season in Los Angeles, the elder Mora accepted a position at the University of Washington under new head coach Don James, and the Moras moved north from Los Angeles to the Seattle area when the younger Mora was 13. His father coached the defensive line at UW for three seasons, then moved over to the pro ranks with the Seattle Seahawks in 1978, where he coached for four years under Jack Patera. The younger Mora attended Hyak Junior High and Interlake High School in Bellevue, and graduated in 1980.

Mora attended the University of Washington, where he walked-on and was a reserve defensive back / linebacker for the Huskies from 1980 to 1983. He appeared in two Rose Bowls (January 1981, 1982) and was a member of the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity. Mora graduated in 1984 and began his coaching career under James as a graduate assistant for the Huskies, then moved to the professional ranks the following year.

Coaching career

Assistant coach

Mora hired on as a quality control coach with the San Diego Chargers in 1985, and moved up to coach the secondary in 1989. In 1992, he went to the New Orleans Saints to coach under his father, head coach Jim E. Mora. In 1997, the younger Mora moved to the San Francisco 49ers to coach under Steve Mariucci, and became the 49ers' defensive coordinator in 1999.

Atlanta Falcons

In 2004, Mora was hired by the Atlanta Falcons as their head coach with a five year, $7.5 million contract.[2] He led the Falcons to a record of 11–5 and a first round bye in the playoffs. Atlanta hosted and defeated the St. Louis Rams 47–17 in the divisional round, and advanced to the NFC Championship Game, where they lost 27–10 on the road to the Philadelphia Eagles.

In 2005, the Falcons went 8–8 and Mora characterized the season as a "disappointing year." This non-winning season continued one of the NFL's strangest records – the Falcons had never had back-to-back winning seasons in the history of the franchise, a 40-year statistical oddity that no other modern professional team has matched. This record ended in 2009. During a rematch of the 2004 NFC Championship with the Philadelphia Eagles, Mora was seen smelling ammonia capsules on the sidelines during a Monday Night Football broadcast. John Madden noted that some coaches use the capsules during games, although they are mostly for players' use.[3] Following the 2005 season, Mora signed a three-year contract extension with the Falcons, which guaranteed the final two years of his original five-year deal, and added a sixth in 2009.[4]

The national media and the Falcons fans had high expectations in 2006, but they fell to a 7–9 record. Atlanta lost their final three games, including two at home, and missed the playoffs for a second straight year. On December 14, while the Falcons were still statistically alive in their quest for the playoffs, Mora said during a radio interview with Dave "Softy" Mahler and former Huskies teammate/roommate Hugh Millen on Seattle sports-talk radio station KJR-AM that if it were offered, he would take the head coaching job at the University of Washington (a job that was not open), "even if [the Falcons] were in a playoff run."[5] While Mora later claimed that he was only kidding,[6] he was criticized by many Falcons fans as well as members of the national media who claimed that making such comments was irresponsible.[citation needed] Team owner Arthur Blank publicly expressed his disapproval of Mora's comments.

Following the season, the Atlanta Falcons announced that they had fired Mora. Arthur Blank told the media,

This was an extremely difficult decision for us. We had the highest hopes and aspirations for a long run with Jim as our coach, but we feel this decision is in the best long-term interests of our franchise. I have great respect for Jim's passion for the game, and we wish Jim and his family all of the best.

[7]

Mora turned to broadcasting after being fired from the Falcons when he became a contributor to NBC's playoff coverage.

Seattle Seahawks

The Seattle Seahawks announced on January 21, 2007, that Mora was joining their staff as assistant head coach and defensive backs coach.[8] Following the 2007 season, Mora interviewed for the Washington Redskins head coaching job after Joe Gibbs resigned, but Mora declined the position to stay with the Seahawks. Mora was announced as the successor to Mike Holmgren prior to the 2008 season and signed a five-year contract through the 2012 season, estimated at $4 million per year.[9][10]

Mora was officially named the seventh head coach in franchise history in 2009, upon Holmgren's retirement after the 2008 season.[11] His first official press conference as the new Seahawks head coach was given on January 13, 2009, where he enthusiastically shared his vision of bringing a Super Bowl championship to Seattle and having a championship parade from the Space Needle to the 'Hawks stadium, Qwest Field.[12]

After going 5–11 in his only season as Seahawks head coach, Mora was fired on January 8, 2010, with three years and $12 million remaining on his contract. Mora was replaced by former USC head coach, Pete Carroll.

UCLA

On December 10, 2011, the UCLA Bruins announced the hiring of Mora as head coach, replacing alumnus Rick Neuheisel. Mora signed a five-year contract for $12 million, plus incentives. He immediately went to work as the Head Coach by hiring Adrian Klemm, Steve Broussard, Demetrice Martin and Eric Yarber as assistant coaches. Each is known for nationally renowned recruiting prowess and impressive former NFL pedigree. Less then two months later, the results came early, as UCLA landed a consensus #12 ranked recruiting class in 2012 after having a class ranked in the high 40s at Rick Neuheisel's departure. In his first season as head coach, the 2012 UCLA team went 9-5, including a victory over rival USC by a score of 38-28 and clinching the Pac-12 South title for the second year in a row. Standout players that year include freshman quarterback Brett Hundley, NFL first round draft pick defensive end Datone Jones, and UCLA's all time leading rusher Johnathan Franklin. Building on the team's success, Mora landed the #3 ranked recruiting class of 2013, UCLA's highest ranked recruiting class within the last two decades. During the 2013 season, Coach Mora and the Bruins finished 10-3 with notable wins over #23 ranked Nebraska (41-21), #23 ranked USC (35-14), and a Sun Bowl win against Virginia Tech (42-12).[13][14]

Because of his success at UCLA, coach Mora was courted by his former alma mater, the University of Washington, to fill their vacated head coaching position. During his time as head coach of the Atlanta Falcons, Mora jokingly described the position at the University of Washington as his "dream job," which ultimately led to his firing. However, Mora turned down the offer and extended his contract with UCLA for another six years, stating that he wants to eventually "hopefully retire" as head coach of UCLA. Weeks later, Coach Jim Mora reaffirmed his intent to remain UCLA's head football coach by turning down the head coaching position with the University of Texas.

Broadcasting career

After his dismissal by the Seahawks, Mora accepted a position as a commentator with the NFL Network.

In August 2010, Fox Sports announced that Mora would be serving as a color analyst on the network's NFL coverage for the 2010 season. He is a sideline reporter and will team with play-by-play announcer Dick Stockton and analyst Charles Davis to call regional games.[15]

During NFL Network's Thursday Night Football schedule, Mora, alongside analysts Kurt Warner, Sterling Sharpe, Brian Billick, Jay Glazer, and host Fran Charles can be seen on Thursday Night Kickoff Presented by Sears from Los Angeles. Mora and Billick can also be seen every Monday during the season on The Coaches Show, providing a breakdown of the biggest storylines and decisions behind Sunday’s matchups from a head coach’s perspective.

Family

Mora is married to Shannon, with a daughter Lillia, and three sons, Cole, Ryder and Trey. He has two brothers: Stephen, a mortgage broker in Bend, Oregon, and Michael, an architect in Seattle.[16]

Jim and his wife Shannon also run the Count on Me Foundation, an organization that targets children from low socio-economic backgrounds, mentally and physically handicapped children, and children "at-risk", as well as those that lack stability or support in their lives.[17]

Head coaching record

NFL

Team Year Regular Season Post Season
Won Lost Ties Win % Finish Won Lost Win % Result
ATL 2004 11 5 0 .688 1st in NFC South 1 1 .500 Lost to Philadelphia Eagles in NFC Championship Game.
ATL 2005 8 8 0 .500 3rd in NFC South – – – –
ATL 2006 7 9 0 .438 3rd in NFC South – – – –
ATL Total 26 22 0 .542 1 1 .500
SEA 2009 5 11 0 .313 3rd in NFC West – – – –
SEA Total 5 11 0 .313 - - -
Total[18] 31 33 0 .470 1 1 .500

College

Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs Coaches# AP°
UCLA Bruins (Pacific-12 Conference) (2012–present)
2012 UCLA 9–5 6–4 1st (South) L Holiday
2013 UCLA 10–3 6–3 2nd (South) W Sun 16 16
UCLA: 19–8 12–6
Total: 19–8
      National championship         Conference title         Conference division title or championship game berth

Coaching tree

NFL head coaches under whom Jim Mora has served:

Following first head-coaching job

Assistant coaches under Jim Mora who became NFL head coaches:

References

  1. ^ "Pac-12 schools give football coaches raises". USA Today. 10 August 2012. Retrieved 15 November 2012.
  2. ^ Seattle Times – Mora Jr. joins candidate list – 2004-12-09
  3. ^ "Analysts agree: Owens' antics cost himself fat contract". USA Today. November 6, 2005. Retrieved May 6, 2010.
  4. ^ Seattle Times – NFL Notes: Mora gets extension – Associated Press – 2006-03-25
  5. ^ "Jim L. Mora on KRJ-AM". Retrieved December 14, 2006.
  6. ^ "Mora says he's happy with Falcons". Retrieved September 24, 2007.
  7. ^ "Mora fired as Falcons coach". Retrieved January 6, 2007.
  8. ^ "Seahawks Add Jim Mora To Coaching Staff". Retrieved January 21, 2007.
  9. ^ Seattle Times – Why isn't Jim Mora talking? Silence only fans flame – 2008-10-30
  10. ^ Seattle Times – On the Mora-ESPN report – Huskies football blog – 2008-11-11
  11. ^ "Hawks Name Mora as Holmgren Successor in 2009". Retrieved February 6, 2008.
  12. ^ "Charged-up Mora takes charge of Seahawks". The News Tribune. 2009-01-14. Retrieved 2010-12-28.
  13. ^ Yonn, Peter (December 10, 2011). "UCLA hires ex-NFL coach Jim Mora". ESPN.com. Archived from the original on December 10, 2011.
  14. ^ "UCLA to hire Jim L. Mora as football coach". The Los Angeles Times. 2011-12-09.
  15. ^ "Warner, Mora Jr. & Pereira are the new faces of the NFL on FOX in 2010". Sports Media News. 2010-08-16. Retrieved 2010-08-17.
  16. ^ Seattle Seahawks Coaching Bio
  17. ^ Count on Me Foundation Website
  18. ^ "Jim Mora Jr. Record, Statistics, and Category Ranks". Pro-Football-Reference.com. 1961-11-19. Retrieved 2010-12-28.
Sporting positions
Preceded by San Francisco 49ers Defensive Coordinator
1999–2003 		Succeeded by

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