Following a 13-38 victory over Michigan State, the UCLA Bruins and Nico Iamaleava continued their successful start to life under interim head coach Tim Skipper, who took over for former head coach DeShaun Foster following his 0-3 start to the season.
During his career, Skipper also spent two stints at Fresno State, as well as three years of his collegiate career as a linebacker for the Bulldogs. In 2023, Skipper was called upon to lead the Bulldogs as acting head coach for the Isleta New Mexico Bowl.
How Did Tim Skipper’s Struggles at Fresno State Help Him at UCLA?
Appearing on ON3 Sports ‘Andy & Ari recently, UCLA’s interim head coach discussed his stint as interim head coach at Fresno State. Skipper coached the Bulldogs to a 6-7 overall record. His career head coaching record is 7-7.
“When I took that thing over, I wasn’t prepared for everything that came with it, just the off-the-field stuff, the schedules, when’s the meeting time, what are we gonna eat, all the media stuff, how much I was away from actual football was crazy,” Skipper revealed.
The former Fresno State head coach took over for Jeff Tedford, who had a 45-22 record with two Mountain West titles in two stints at Fresno State. However, Tedford ultimately had to step away from Football due to health reasons, leaving Skipper in charge.
After taking over for DeShaun Foster following his 0-3 start to the season, the current UCLA interim head coach revealed on the show that he enjoyed a much more pleasant start to life as head coach. Skipper has gone two games in a row unbeaten, with a 2-1 record.
Nico Iamaleava vs some of the “Heisman Favorites”
Total Yards:
Nico – 1.469
Sayin – 1,479
Moore – 1,491
Beck – 1,231Touchdowns:
Nico – 13
Sayin – 15
Moore – 15
Beck – 12Interceptions:
Nico – 3
Sayin – 3
Moore – 3
Beck – 3Top 10 wins:
Nico – 1
Sayin – 1
Moore – 1
Beck – 1… pic.twitter.com/BofVYAuB3F— brycethe1️⃣ (@moneybryce9) October 14, 2025
“But taking over here at UCLA has been ten times easier for me because of that experience. I already had a schedule laid out, I knew how I wanted their offdays to be, and I could answer questions. I’m so far ahead, I know exactly what I want to do every day.”
How Has Skipper’s Arrival Worked for Nico Iamaleava?
One of the people who benefited most from Skipper’s takeover of the team was UCLA’s quarterback. Iamaleava had a rough start to the season. The Tennessee transfer was initially ranked as the 78th-best Quarterback by ESPN QBR going into the game against Penn.
However, the quarterback had the best game of his career against the Nitanny Lions, rushing for 128 yards and three touchdowns and throwing for 166 yards.
According to PFN’s QB impact rating, the UCLA quarterback is listed as the 42nd overall nationally and is improving every week. Iamaleava threw for 180 yards and 3 in his most recent game against the Michigan Spartans.
“I didn’t get here until August, and I didn’t know Nico at all. And that kid is a great kid and is a natural-born leader. He voices his opinion, whether good or bad, and people follow him. I’m very glad he’s having success now; he deserves it.” Skipper shared.
Going into the season, the Tennessee transfer had a narrative surrounding him after he entered the Transfer Portal to secure a more lucrative contract. However, he ultimately ended up at UCLA, earning significantly less than what he was after.
“He’s a very hard worker, that’s dealt with a lot of stuff on and off the field, and it’s mostly off the field stuff. And he just keeps on rising and keeps on moving forward; it’s just a pleasure to watch him grow as a person. I’m glad he’s on our team.”
Following their most recent victory over the Spartans, the quarterback also revealed that he loves working under the interim head coach. Under Skipper, the quarterback looks much like the player College Football fans knew from his time in Tennessee.
“Yes, sir. Coach Skip is a great guy to have in the building. He brings great energy, man, and he’s somebody you wanna play for. I love coach Skip.” Iamaleava shared if he believed the current interim head coach was building enough of a resume to keep his job.
Despite the fans’ call, there have been no reports indicating that UCLA is going in this direction. With games against Maryland and Washington coming up, the interim head coach has a chance to exceed the expectations of PFN’s playoff meter.