Tag: Ikaika Malloe

UCLA football lands visit from Miami cornerback

The Bruins secured a visit from a former four-star recruit.

The UCLA Bruins have already had a busy off-season. With players entering the transfer portal to big changes at offensive coordinator, the Bruins are already in the process of building their team for 2025.

This week, University of Miami (FL) cornerback Robert Stafford announced on X that he will visit Westwood this month.

Stafford, a redshirt freshman, only recorded two tackles with the Hurricanes this season and has entered the transfer portal. A consensus four-star recruit in high school, Stafford will visit the University of Central Florida, Georgia Tech, Maryland, and UCLA before the end of the calendar year.

Though the Bruins’ 5-7 record in 2024 leaves much to be desired, UCLA’s defense was one of the top units in the Big Ten against the run and could use some help against the pass.

In the transfer portal and NIL era, where playing time and visibility reign supreme, UCLA offers Stafford an opportunity to play and learn under defensive coordinator Ikaika Malloe, who helped make linebacker Carson Schwesinger a finalist for the Butkus Award.

UCLA wire examines Ikaika Malloe as Defensive Coordinator

How will the new Bruins DC do?

As the UCLA Bruins football season approaches, there are plenty of questions about the 2024 squad. DeShaun Foster has his staff and his place, and his team is balling out in the pre-season practices.

UCLA Wire’s Matt Wadleigh discussed with Brock Vierra of Team NBS Media and one of the topics was the hiring of Ikaika Malloe as the defensive coordinator.

Here is what Wadleigh had to say about the new defensive coordinator:

“Ikaika Malloe has a difficult job with a lot of departing players, but the good news is it was an internal promotion to DC. He can step in and work with the same players he worked with before, which is a positive sign. But, there is no denying that the defense will be the big weak spot for UCLA this year.”

Malloe was hired in January of 2023. He played his college football at Washington and was one of the best defensive players on the squad from 2016-2020.

UCLA DC sheds light on Pac-12 and Big Ten differences

Ikaika Malloe speaks on the changes.

There has been a lot said about the Bruins moving to the BIG Ten entering this season. From recruiting rankings to talent assessment, UCLA has caught fire for many of the program’s past shortcomings.

That said, Bruins defensive coordinator Ikaika Malloe gave some insights into how his defense will need to adjust.

In a video posted on UCLA’s BIG Ten Network X page, Malloe shed some light on how the conference merger will affect both the Pac-12 and BIG Ten teams. Specifically, it was about how different offensive philosophies will shape defensive game plans.

“Even when I was a player playing at the University of Washington, the BIG Ten was known for powerhouse football… For us, you had to get them out of running the ball. In the Pac-12, everything was quarterback-driven. It’s all about coverages and disguises and how much pressure you can put on the quarterback,” Malloe said.

“So, it will be a push and pull from two different conferences coming together. One will have to build the physicality part at least in my opinion. I believe on the BIG Ten side, it’s trying to figure out the spread offense. Things of that nature, where it’s not all powerhouse.”

Ikaika Malloe excited about homecoming in Hawaii

UCLA Bruins defensive coordinator Ikaika Malloe is excited about returning to Hawaii.

Obviously, the game on Saturday between the UCLA Bruins and Hawaii Rainbow Warriors has a ton on the line. The first game for the new coaching staff at UCLA. The Rainbow Warriors looking to start 2-0, beat a power program, etc.

But, for Ikaika Malloe it has a whole new meaning. The second-year defensive coordinator is from Hawaii and has been fielding inquiries from friends and family about grabbing tickets for the game.

He is a graduate of Kamehameha School in Hawaii. From Waimanalo Hawaii to Spokane Washington playing with the Huskies was a big adjustment for him,  but he went on to earn four varsity letters as a safety and outside linebacker. He won the Bob Jarvis Most Inspirational Walk-On award in 1993.

He spoke to reporters after Tuesday’s practice about his time in Hawaii, and what it meant to come back:

The Bruins and Rainbow Warriors will kick off at 4:30 pm Pacific Time.

Ikaika Malloe raves on Ale Kaho ahead of 2024 season

High praises from Ikaika Malloe.

The UCLA Bruins defense is set to look much different in 2024 with the Murphy twins, Darius Muasau, and Laiatu Latu all off to the NFL.

But, one player who could fill one of the gaps is Ale Kaho. The former Alabama transfer played just one game over the past two seasons due to a multitude of injuries, but he has encouraged coaches during camp early on.

New Bruins defensive coordinator Ikaika Malloe spoke highly of Kaho, per James H. Williams of The Los Angeles Daily News.

“I think we all know how athletic he is,” defensive coordinator Ikaika Malloe said. “He’s a really special player but it’s his availability that will be the best ability for him.

As for the coaching staff, they want to do their part to make sure Kaho is healthy:  “We have to do our part to make sure he’s healthy and just the reps he takes out on the field. He doesn’t need much.”

Bruins linebacker Oluwafemi Oladej also spoke highly of Kaho and is excited to see him on the field: “Ale’s just an explosive player, fun to play with, fun to talk to in the locker room, great guy. He accelerates everybody’s confidence, just knowing Ale’s playing behind the ball, I can play fast because he’s playing fast.”

If Kaho can be healthy for the 2024 season, it would be a giant boost to the Bruins’ defense.

Trio of UCLA coaches make top 25 SuperWestrecruiters list

UCLA has some of the top recruiters

In order for first-time UCLA head coach DeShaun Foster to be successful, adding talented coaches is a big key. And, he has done just that with guys such as Ikaika Malloe and Eric Bieniemy.

SuperWest Sports compiled a list of the top 25 recruiters in the SuperWest, and three UCLA assistants made the cut. Here is where they ranked:

  • #3: Ikaika Malloe, DC
  • #12: Ken Norton Jr., LBs
  • #22: Kodi Whitfield, CBs

The top name on the list is USC assistant Eric Henderson, who spent time in the NFL with the Los Angeles Rams.

For new head coach DeShaun Foster, having talented coaches and strong recruiters such as these three is a massive step as they try and bring in recruits and players via the transfer portal.

The coaching staff Foster has put together is full of NFL experience, which certainly helps lure in players in the portal and recruiting front. It;s a step in the right direction.

UCLA DC Ikaika Malloe visits three-star recruit

Ikaika Malloe on the road.

This week, UCLA’s new defensive coordinator, Ikaika Malloe, visited the Aloha State to meet up with one of the Bruins’ future targets. 

Malloe, who was hired in January of this year after serving as the team’s special teams coordinator and outside linebackers coach, met with three-star recruit edge defender Lebron Williams. 

Williams, who at 6′ 2″ and 250 pounds, has one more season of football at Kahuku High School in Hawaii. Receiving offers from Washington State, the University of Hawaii, and UCLA, the Bruins are currently the best option. As a BIG 10 program, UCLA dwarfs Washington State and Hawaii in the conference strength and nationwide visibility. 

Despite the critiques of the Bruins recruiting, in large part due to the mismanagement of Chip Kelly, UCLA’s coaching staff has done their due diligence and gone the extra mile to make their recruits feel at home and appreciated. 

If the Bruins see some success in 2024, their efforts in recruiting high-end prospects could pay off with some big commitments soon.

DeShaun Foster, Jay Toia on hand to support Laiatu Latu at NFL Draft

DeShaun Foster and others on hand to see Laiatu Latu get drafted.

The UCLA Bruins football program saw Laiatu Latu hear his name called during the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft on Thursday. He went No. 15 overall to the Indianapolis Colts, ending a string of 14 straight offensive players to be selected.

And, even more impressive, is that a few Bruins coaches and players were there to support him. DeShaun Foster, defensive coordinator Ikaika Malloe, teammate Jay Toia, and athletic director Martin Jarmond were all there to support Latu.

DeShaun Foster is wasting no time making strong impressions in his first year as UCLA head coach, and them being there to see Latu get selected is quite something.

Latu then had his introductory press conference on Friday in Indianapolis and had plenty of things to say as his UCLA career comes to an end and he begins his NFL journey.

The Bruins contingent had to go back to LA to prepare for the Spring Game on April 27. 

UCLA football finds its D’Anton Lynn replacement at defensive coordinator

UCLA promoted from within for its defensive coordinator spot.

The USC Trojans fired Alex Grinch and then stunned the college football world by hiring UCLA defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn.

After Lynn went from one Los Angeles school to the other, the Bruins immediately searched for a replacement. Now, they have promoted Ikaika Malloe to be the defensive coordinator, per the release from the program:

“UCLA head football coach Chip Kelly announced Wednesday he has elevated Ikaika Malloe to the position of defensive coordinator.”

Malloe has two decades of coaching experience and has been at UCLA for the past two, being in charge of the outside linebackers and then the defensive line this past season.

Bruin coach Chip Kelly gave a statement after the news dropped: “Ikaika has a track record of developing NFL talent on the field and outstanding young men off it. I am excited to watch this next step for him and our team.”

D’Antonn Lynn had UCLA’s defense playing at a high level, so Malloe has big shoes to fill as the Bruins enter the Big Ten.

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