Ed Kezirian

Ed Kezirian (born August 4, 1952 in Fresno, California) an American athletic administrator who was the interim head coach of the UCLA Bruins football team for one game. Kezirian worked as the Football Academic Coordinator at University of California, Los Angeles, and became known for waving a towel on the sidelines to inspire the fans during football games. "Coach K", as he is more affectionately known, retired from UCLA after the 2007 season and moved back to Central California.[1]

Ed Kezirian
Born (1952-08-04) August 4, 1952
Fresno, California, U.S.
Alma materReedley College
University of California, Los Angeles

High school

Kezirian was born in Fresno, California on August 4, 1952.[2] Kezirian attended Central High School in Fresno, where he was on the football team.

Personal life and college career

Kezirian spent two seasons at Reedley College in Reedley, California before transferring to UCLA in 1973. Kezirian was named to the 1973 All-Coast/Conference First Team.[3] He was part of coach Pepper Rodgers' offensive line at the time. His son, Blane, also played football for UCLA as a tight end and on special teams.[4]

Coaching career

Kezirian was an offensive line coach under Terry Donahue and Bob Toledo. When Toledo was fired on December 10, 2002, Kezirian became the interim head coach for the game against the New Mexico Lobos in the Las Vegas Bowl on December 25, 2002. He was victorious in his only game as Bruin head coach; UCLA won 27-13. During the game, Katie Hnida became the first woman to play in a Division I-A college football game.[5]

After the game, Kezirian retired from coaching and was replaced by Karl Dorrell. He remained on the staff to continue overseeing academics for the UCLA Bruins.

Coaching timeline
  • 1976-1977 (UCLA): GA
  • 1978-1980 (Hawaii): TE/OT/ST
  • 1981 (Hawaii): OL/ST
  • 1982-1988 (UCLA): TE/OT
  • 1989 (UCLA): OG/C
  • 1990-1992 (UCLA): OL

See also

References
  1. "Coach ends years of towel-waving support". dailybruin.com. Retrieved 2019-11-05.
  2. "Player Bio: Ed Kezirian - UCLA Official Athletic Site". UCLA. Retrieved 2019-11-05.
  3. 1975 UCLA Media Guide, UCLA Athletic News Bureau, 1975
  4. "Player Bio: Blane Kezirian - UCLA Official Athletic Site". UCLA. Retrieved 2019-11-05.
  5. Dicker, Ron (2002-12-26). "FOOTBALL; Woman's Kick Is Blocked, But a Barrier Comes Down". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2019-11-05.


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