What does UCLA coaching history show?
UCLA coaching history on this page spans 18 tracked head coaches, led by Terry Donahue with 151 wins from 1976-1995.
Program history
UCLA Football History
Program history, coaching eras, title years, and signature seasons.
Rose Bowl • Pasadena • CA
Big TenRose Bowl
Seasons Indexed
102
All-Time Wins
623
Winning Seasons
61%
Last 10 Win %
46.2%
History guide
UCLA program history explained
This history tab puts UCLA into a longer program timeline: season records, winning and losing streaks, coaching-era context, title references, playoff runs, and decade-level performance.
The current dataset includes 102 indexed seasons, and 18 coaching tenures. Use the national record links to compare the program against broader college football leaderboards.
Program History
Explore the program's most dominant seasons, toughest stretches, and era-by-era trends.
Use the snapshot to scan program-wide benchmarks, standout seasons, and decade-level performance trends.
Total Wins
623
Across 102 seasons
Winning Seasons
61%
Share of winning records
Average Record
6.1-4.2
Per season
Last 10 Seasons
46.2%
Win rate since 2026
Signature Season
1946
10-1 (90.9% win rate)
Toughest Season
1940
1-9 (10.0% win rate)
Peak Seasons
Most wins in program history
Highlights the seasons that produced the biggest win totals for the program.
| Year | Record | Win % |
|---|---|---|
| 1946 | 10-1 | 90.9% |
| 1982 | 10-1-1 | 87.5% |
| 2005 | 10-2 | 83.3% |
| 1998 | 10-2 | 83.3% |
| 1997 | 10-2 | 83.3% |
Challenging Seasons
Years that tested the fan base
Surfaces the seasons with the heaviest loss totals and weakest win rates.
| Year | Record | Win % |
|---|---|---|
| 1940 | 1-9 | 10.0% |
| 2025 | 3-9 | 25.0% |
| 2018 | 3-9 | 25.0% |
| 1943 | 1-8 | 11.1% |
| 1963 | 2-8 | 20.0% |
Era Performance
Win rate by decade
Buckets every season into decade groups so long-run rises and dips are easier to spot.
| Decade | Record | Win % |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 36-33 | 52.2% |
| 2010s | 64-64 | 50.0% |
| 2000s | 67-57 | 54.0% |
| 1990s | 69-46 | 60.0% |
| 1980s | 82-30-6 | 72.0% |
| 1970s | 69-37-6 | 64.3% |
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