Will Nico Iamaleava leave UCLA? Update on quarterback’s status with UCLA

Plenty of changes are happening at UCLA − but its quarterback remains the same.

Nico Iamlaeava was practicing with the team on Wednesday, Sept. 17, three days after the Bruins fired second-year coach Deshaun Foster.

While it shouldn’t be a total surprise for a team’s starting quarterback to be practicing, it’s a noteworthy because Foster’s departure opened a 30-day transfer portal window for Bruins players. And since the firing happened before the team played four games, players that have not redshirted can retain a year of eligibility if they leave the team.

While Iamaleava has already used his redshirt and wouldn’t be able to join another team until the spring semester, his participation in practice signals he plans to continue play with the Bruins, for now.

Hours after Foster was fired, atheltic director Martin Jarmond told reporters he spoke with the team and no players indiciated they were thinking about transferring. Interim coach Tim Skipper shared a similar sentiment ahead of practice.

‘Had very positive conversations with our guys. There’s nothing to announce or report that way,’ Skipper said. ‘This university, this campus, this coaching staff, has a lot to offer to these guys. You remind them of that, and they see it. They see how our energy is every day, and we’re just going to take it one day at a time and keep on working.’

UCLA plays next at Northwestern on Sept. 27. Iamaleava has until Oct. 14 to enter the portal, allowing him to play in the next three games against Northwestern, Penn State and Michigan State. The Bruins host Maryland on Oct. 18, three days after the window closes.

UCLA part ways with defensive coordinator

While UCLA’s starting quarterback is still with the team, its defensive coordinator is not.

Skipper announced the Bruins parted ways with defensive coordinator Ikaika Malloe. He did not disclose why the two sides separated.

Malloe joined the staff in December 2022 as a defensive position coach and took was interim defensive coordinator for UCLA’s bowl game in 2023. Afterward, he was officially given the position.

Defense was UCLA’s strongsuit in Malloe’s first full season, ranking sixth in the country in rushing defense (96.2). However, the unit has struggled out of the gate in 2025, ranking near the bottom of several categories including:

• Scoring defense: 36 points per game (121st out of 134 teams)
• Total defense: 431 yards per game (117th)
• Rushing defense: 244 yards per game (132nd)
• Defensive passing efficency: 184.7 (132nd)
• Defensive third down percentage: 62.2% (133rd)