There has been a big change in the UCLA sports department throughout the last month. Kelly moved from being adamantly certain that he would be back on the sidelines in 2024 to a coach who is actively and aggressively looking for a job, especially in light of his end-of-year media appearances and Martin Jarmond’s uncertain support for “continuity.”

Following his dismissal as Ohio State athletic director last month, there seems to have been a new understanding with the boosters regarding a willingness to invest more seriously financially for success in 2024 and beyond. Either way, it looks like Jarmond has reaffirmed his commitment to staying at UCLA long-term.

But there has been a tectonic shift in the organization recently; otherwise, UCLA would have been significantly more aggressive in their pursuit of Jedd Fisch or Jonathan Smith.

It’s hard to imagine Kelly and Jarmond’s relationship wasn’t at least slightly chilly, given how chilly it has supposedly been lately.