UCLA alumnus Angelo Mazzone III has committed $10 million to the university’s football program, according to an April 1 announcement. The gift will endow the head football coach position and support key areas aimed at advancing student-athlete success.
The commitment comes as college football faces major changes, including expanded playoffs, conference realignment, and new rules regarding Name, Image and Likeness. Supporters say philanthropy is increasingly important for programs like UCLA to remain competitive in this evolving landscape.
Mazzone’s planned gift will establish the Angelo M. Mazzone III UCLA Head Football Coach Endowment. He has been involved with UCLA athletics since arriving on campus in 1968 as a football manager and later serving as assistant athletic director. “Angelo’s extraordinary commitment reflects the deep connections so many Bruins feel to this university and to the role athletics plays in our community,” said Chancellor Julio Frenk. “His generosity will help ensure that our student-athletes have the support and resources they need to succeed — on the field, in the classroom, and in life. We are deeply grateful for his enduring belief in UCLA and its future.”
Martin Jarmond, Alice and Nahum Lainer Family Director of Athletics at UCLA, said: “On behalf of UCLA Athletics, I want to extend our sincere gratitude to Angelo for this extraordinary commitment to our football program. Angelo has been a champion of UCLA football and a fixture on the sidelines for nearly six decades. This generous gift strengthens the foundation of our program, not only for the Bruins of today, but also for future generations.” Head coach Bob Chesney added: “A gift of this magnitude from such a dedicated, impactful and cherished member of the Bruin family is deeply humbling… We can’t thank him enough for investing in the future of our student-athletes and the success of UCLA football.”
Mazzone’s connection with UCLA spans almost sixty years; he attended every home game during that time while maintaining close ties with athletes and coaches even after leaving his role as associate athletic director in 1982.
UCLA is known nationally for its achievements across scholarship, arts, athletics—and associations with Nobel laureates and MacArthur Fellows—according to its official website. The university operates within California’s public system on a 419-acre campus supporting academic activities according to official information. It also fosters diverse perspectives through academic programs as reported by its website.
Reflecting on his legacy at UCLA, Mazzone said: “That UCLA will excel and that others will be inspired to invest in the mission of UCLA Athletics and UCLA football. Our student-athletes need resources to thrive in pursuit of their academic, personal and athletic goals.”
