LOS ANGELES -- The search for a new UCLA football coach reportedly began in New Orleans.

And the candidate there -- Mike Riley -- seems a ideal fit for the job.

The Los Angeles Times and Daily News of Los Angeles reported Tuesday that UCLA representative Bob Field, a former Bruins assistant coach, headed to Louisiana to talk with Riley, the defensive backfield coach for the New Orleans Saints.

"We will not comment on the various aspects of the coaching search,'' UCLA spokesman Marc Dellins said.

In discussing the firing of coach Bob Toledo, first-year athletics director Dan Guerrero said Monday he wanted someone who was "a proven coach, a successful coach.''

"A tremendous leader, a great teacher, a great educator, a great role model for young men, someone with West Coast ties might be a benefit, someone who understands the Pac-10,'' Guerrero said, adding he also wants someone "who knows a little bit about rivalries and the importance of those kinds of things in Los Angeles.''

UCLA has lost its last four games to crosstown rival Southern Californa after beating the Trojans eight straight times.

Riley, 49, has been an assistant coach at USC and was head coach with Oregon State and the San Diego Chargers.

He was a leading candidate for the job Pete Carroll took at USC two years ago, but decided to stay in San Diego at that time. The Chargers fired Riley last December following a 5-11 season.

Riley is also considered a leading candidate at Alabama, his alma mater.

Among others mentioned as possible successors after Toledo was fired Monday were Colorado coach Gary Barnett, Pittsburgh coach Walt Harris, Illinois coach Ron Turner, Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz, Oklahoma defensive coordinator Mike Stoops, Denver Broncos assistant Karl Dorrell, and Kansas City Chiefs assistant Greg Robinson.

Dorrell and Robinson have histories at UCLA. Dorrell was a four-year letterman as a Bruins wide receiver in the 1980s and Robinson was an assistant under Terry Donahue from 1982-89.

"I think Karl would be an excellent candidate,'' Broncos coach Mike Shanahan said. "He's a heck of a coach, a first-class person, he knows the area well.''

Dorrell, in his third season with Denver, was also a graduate assistant at UCLA. Before joining the Broncos, he coached 12 years at such colleges as Colorado, Central Florida, Northern Arizona and Arizona State.

Guerrero made it clear he realizes UCLA will probably have to pay more than the $578,000 salary earned by Toledo to get what it wants.

"We're not going to get caught up in an arms race, but we'll be competitive for this conference,'' he said. "We know what the market is.''

Guerrero declined to comment on potential candidates and didn't set a time for the hiring.

"Obviously, the sooner the better,'' he said. "Individuals are still in bowl games and some are in the NFL ranks.''

UCLA had a 49-32 record in seven seasons under the 56-year-old Toledo including 7-5 this season, but the Bruins were 24-24 following a school-record 20-game winning streak in 1997-98.

The Bruins will be coached by Ed Kezirian, assistant director of academic services, when they face New Mexico in the Sega Sports Las Vegas Bowl on Christmas Day. Kezirian, a Bruins assistant from 1982-92, said he will handle the administrative end, with other members of the coaching staff calling the plays.