Marques Tuiasosopo Reportedly in Mix to be UCLA Quarterbacks Coach

USC assistant coach Marques Tuiasosopo is in the mix to take over as UCLA’s quarterbacks coach, according to multiple reports Friday.

Tuiasosopo is expected to take over as quarterbacks coach after the impending departure of current QB coach Taylor Mazzone, according Bruin Report Online. His father Noel Mazzone recently left the Bruins to become the offensive coordinator at Texas A&M and Taylor is rumored to join him.

Ryan Phillips of RumorsandRants.com also reported Tuiasosopo’s likely change of venue.

Tuiasosopo has coached tight ends and quarterbacks for the Trojans while also serving as a valuable recruiting figure. It is that last role which could cause the biggest blow if he were to leave. Tuiasosopo is heavily linked to USC targets Devin Asiasi and Boss Tagaloa and his departure would set the Trojans back in those recruiting battles.

Replacing Tuiasosopo in his role as an assistant coach would be a much easier problem to solve. Tyson Helton was brought in as a running backs coach, but as the passing game coordinator and a former quarterbacks coach himself he would make the most sense to fill that role. If Helton gave up running back duties those could fall back into the lap of Johnny Nansen, who was retained from Steve Sarkisian’s staff but remains in limbo when it comes to his role on the staff given all the changes. Nansen coached running backs in 2015 with great success.

More from Reign of Troy

• Markese Stepp enters transfer portal intending to leave USC football
• USC football’s Alijah Vera-Tucker declares for NFL Draft
• USC football adds Xavion Alford as transfer from Texas
• USC Podcast: RoT Radio Ep. 396 on the Football Season’s Fallout
• Talanoa Hufanga named Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year, USC football with five first-teamers

After starting as a strength coach under Steve Sarkisian at Washington, Tuiasosopo got his first assistant role at UCLA under Jim Mora in 2012, coaching tight ends.

He moved to UW the following year to be the Huskies’ quarterbacks coach, and briefly stood as the interim head coach for their win over BYU in the 2013 Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl after Sarkisian’s move to Los Angeles.

Tuiasosopo then followed Sark to USC in 2014, where he’s been ever since.

As a player, Tuiasosopo led Washington to a win over Purdue in the 2001 Rose Bowl. He was the first quarterback ever to throw for 300 yards and run for 200 yards in a game, completing the feat in 1999 against Stanford.