WATCH: Awkward DeShaun Fosters disastrous opening statement as UCLA head coach

The first impression is the last impression, and yet, for DeShaun Foster’s sake, hopefully, fans of the college program will overlook his first press conference. Everyone gets jitters facing the media for the first time, and Foster wasn’t different either.

A nervous Foster took the podium during the Big-10 Football Media Day on July 24 at Lucas Oil Stadium Indianapolis. His body language did not seem that of a confident individual.

He began with the regular exchange of pleasantries with the reporters sitting just in front of him.

How are you guys doing?

DeShaun Foster said

Then he switched to football and his excitement about becoming the head coach of the UCLA Bruins—all the usual coach talk, until he went off the rail and started talking about the university’s location.

Football-wise… we’re just excited. I’m sure you guys don’t know too much about UCLA, our football program, but we’re in L.A. It’s us and USC [trojans], and we, um...

DeShaun Foster said hesitated with so many eyes on him.

His next line hinted that he wanted to wrap up the session quickly.

I’m just basically excited, [really]. That’s it… Any question?

DeShaun Foster quipped

UCLA coach DeShaun Foster with a really awkward Big Ten media day opening statement pic.twitter.com/dHX5ayP7K3

— Heavens! (@HeavensFX) July 24, 2024

A silent murmur was audible in the video from the crowd, who seemed slightly in awe at the sudden end of Foster’s speech. Perhaps the 44-year-old should have taken some pointers from Deion Sanders on how to ace a media conference.

Even a varsity rookie would point out it wasn’t the best media debut for Foster. The pressure of creating an impression got the best of his cool and calm demeanor.

Later, in an interview with the Los Angeles Times, Foster spoke about feeling relieved getting the introduction part out of the way.

It’s the first time you’re doing something. [And it’s] sort of like the press conference, I guess. Get through the first one, and then I’m good to go.

DeShaun Foster said

Unlike Sanders’, the bookmakers don’t expect too much from Foster in his first season in charge of UCLA. According to the Times, they are projected to finish 15th out of the 18 teams in the division. Foster is in no mood to value outside chit-chat; he is focused on creating a winning culture in the program.

I’ve always hit the ground running and been successful. I don’t see that not happening this year.

DeShaun Foster added

Foster played four seasons as a tailback for UCLA—from 1998 to 2001. The Carolina Panthers selected him in the second round of the 2002 NFL Draft. He played five seasons in Carolina and one year with the San Francisco 49ers before retiring in 2008.

The Charlotte native joined UCLA this time as a volunteer under head coach Jim L. Mora and graduated as an assistant. For a brief period, he was the running backs coach at Texas Tech and then returned to the Bruins to manage their running back core under head coach Chip Kelly. As Kelly accepted the head coaching job at Ohio State, UCLA appointed Foster as their HC.

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