This post was updated April 6 at 8:53 p.m.

The last time coach DeShaun Foster and Tino Sunseri worked in the same building, one was an NFL running back and the other was folding towels for the Carolina Panthers.

The latter – UCLA football’s new offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach – is now the former’s right-hand man.

“I was a coach’s kid,” Sunseri said. “I worked in the equipment room folding towels, putting away laundry, doing anything I could because I wanted to be around my father.”

Sal Sunseri – Tino’s father – was the defensive line coach for the Panthers from 2002 to 2008, which directly overlapped with Foster’s five-year tenure as one of the team’s running backs.

“He (Foster) was somebody that would come up to you as a young kid that looked up to all these NFL players,” Tino Sunseri said. “And would take the time to talk to you, spend the time with you and was really genuine. It was somebody that whenever I walked in the building, I felt like I had a friendship with.”

Though Sunseri didn’t see Foster again until Indiana triumphed over UCLA at the Rose Bowl last season, he said the Bruins’ head honcho sold him on moving to Westwood with his emphasis on player growth and the importance of life after college football.

Before taking the reins of UCLA’s offense, Sunseri worked his way up the collegiate coaching ladder by working as a quality control coach and later a graduate assistant for national championship programs under Jimbo Fisher and Nick Saban at Florida State and Alabama, respectively.

Following his time at Alabama, Sunseri moved to James Madison in 2021, where he was quarterbacks coach under Curt Cignetti – whom he then followed to Indiana as a co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for the 2024 season, in which the school made the College Football Playoff.

Sunseri said he is bringing Cignetti’s philosophy with him to UCLA as he installs his own offense for the first time in his coaching career.

“It’s coach Cignetti’s philosophy, which is a Saban philosophy, which is what I believe in too,” Sunseri said. “Making sure that you’re disciplined, understanding what you’re trying to do and having the poise to execute and play great late in games.”

Fellow Los Angeles newcomer, quarterback Joey Aguilar, took a majority of the snaps during UCLA’s Saturday practice at Spaulding Field and is lined up to be the starting quarterback of Sunseri’s offense next season.

Aguilar appeared to struggle Saturday, though, throwing multiple interceptions and often being contained to checkdowns.

“It’s day three being on the field in pads,” Foster said. “Let’s see how he looks next Saturday with another week underneath his belt. I’m pretty excited with his progress right now.”

Sunseri said he thinks he can push the Antioch, California, local to succeed in his offense.

“As somebody that learned from Jimbo Fisher early on in his career, I have to make sure that I’m out on this field pressing him (Aguilar) in all situations so that by the time he gets to play in a game, their expectations in that stadium won’t be as high as mine on this practice field,” Sunseri said.

Sunseri has seen nothing but success from the quarterbacks he has coached, despite having a different starter every year for the past four seasons. During his four years at James Madison and Indiana, his quarterbacks averaged nearly 3,500 yards, 35 passing touchdowns and eight interceptions per year.

By comparison, UCLA’s quarterbacks combined to throw for only 2,906 yards last season while tossing 17 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.

However, the first-year offensive coordinator said he wants to use this transition as an opportunity to grow as a coach with his new unit.

“It allows you to go back to square one,” Sunseri said. “And really be able to concentrate on what you think you’re doing well as a coach. So as much as I’m trying to coach them, I’m also coaching myself.”