RENO - The UCLA Bruins' pistol is going to be loaded next season.
Jim Mastro, who was instrumental in developing the Nevada Wolf Pack's ground-breaking pistol offense the past six years, announced Thursday that he has accepted a position with the UCLA Bruins.
Mastro, a member of the Wolf Pack's coaching staff since 2000, will coach tight ends and help coordinate the Bruins' running game. He coached Wolf Pack running backs and, in 2004, was named the program's recruiting coordinator.
"UCLA is just a great, great opportunity for me to take on a new challenge," Mastro said. "And that's really what this comes down to."
Mastro came to Nevada from the University of Idaho with then-new Pack head coach Chris Tormey in 2000. Chris Ault took over the program in 2004, kept Mastro on his staff and also named him the Pack's recruiting coordinator.
"What (Ault) accomplished here with so little is absolutely amazing and it has readied me for this move," Mastro said. "That's why even contemplating a different move was so difficult. But (UCLA head coach Rick Neuheisel) has set a new bar for me with this opportunity. I have new goals already, and that's something I am now focused on."
The Wolf Pack had had one of the top running games in the nation under Mastro, leading the nation in 2009 and finishing third in 2010. The Pack led the Western Athletic Conference in rushing in five of Mastro's 11 years.
Neuheisel and the UCLA coaching staff visited Nevada last spring and summer with the idea of implementing aspects of the Pack's pistol offense.
The Bruins went from 97th in the nation in rushing in 2009 to 32nd with the pistol in 2010.
"I'm excited for Jim," Ault said. "I have watched him grow into the best running backs coach I've had. He was a major contributor on and off the field for our program. Jim is a great hire for UCLA. There's no question he will bring accountability to the offensive side of the ball, especially the run game.
"I wish him all the best. From my perspective, he will always be a part of the Pack."
Ault said there is no timetable in hiring a new coach. The Pack will open spring practices on March 24.
"The rise of the Nevada program nationally has been the greatest years of my coaching career," Mastro said. "We've done some amazing things here and there's not a coach across the country that hasn't noticed it."
Mastro interviewed at UCLA last week.
"I felt like I had the greatest job in the world at Nevada and I was working for the best head coach in America," he said. "I have always said that when coach Ault felt the time was right for me to move on he would be the first to tell me it's time to go. That is exactly what he told me this morning, and that alone shows the type of man, coach and person he is."
Mastro's experience with the pistol is a big reason why Neuheisel wanted to add him to the Bruins staff. The Bruins finished 4-8 last season in the Pac-10 and are 15-22 in three seasons under Neuheisel.
"Jim has a wealth of knowledge and experience with the Pistol and will be a great asset as we incorporate many of its run-game principles into our offense," said Neuheisel. "He has enjoyed great success in the running game and I feel he will work well alongside Mike Johnson (offensive coordinator), Wayne Moses (running backs) and Bob Palcic (offensive line) to give us a very cohesive offensive staff."