On December 10, 2011, UCLA athletics director Dan Guerrero announced the hiring of former Atlanta Falcons and Seattle Seahawks head coach, Jim L. Mora, as the Bruins' 16th head football coach. Mora signed a three-year contract. The results of the new regime came early, as UCLA landed a consensus No. 12 ranked recruiting class in 2012 after having a class ranked in the high 40s at Neuheisel's departure. In Mora's first season, the Bruins finished 9–5 capped with a loss in the 2012 Holiday Bowl.