Los Angeles ? Karl Dorrell has turned Terry Donahue into a prophet.

Dorrell began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at UCLA in 1988 — two years after completing his playing career as a wide receiver for the Bruins.

Now, he’s back in Westwood as the school’s 15th head coach.

“I’d like to thank Terry Donahue for starting me in coaching,” Dorrell said Thursday. “He said, ‘Hey Karl, I think you have the qualities to be a good coach someday.’ He saw something in me that obviously I didn’t see.

“He said, ‘You never know, you might be the head coach at UCLA some day.”‘

Dorrell was hired by UCLA on Wednesday night, beating out Mike Riley and Greg Robinson.

All three are working as assistant coaches with NFL teams — Dorrell as wide receivers coach for Denver, Riley with New Orleans and Robinson with Kansas City.

“In a lot of ways, you could have flipped a coin,” first-year athletic director Dan Guerrero said regarding the three candidates he interviewed to succeed Bob Toledo, fired Dec. 9. “There’s just something special about Karl.

Karl Dorrell speaks to the media during a news conference. Dorrell was introduced as UCLA's head football coach on Thursday in Los Angeles.

“I went with my gut, I went with my instincts. I went with the person I thought could take us to the next level. After my first interview with him, I just had a feeling he was the guy. There’s a presence about him, he has strong convictions, he’s a fiery competitor.”

Guerrero made his recommendation Tuesday to Chancellor Albert Carnesale, who concurred.

The chancellor gave Dorrell a hug as the news conference ended.

“There’s a sense of quiet maturity, poise and leadership that he possesses,” Carnesale said. “You can spot passion without him jumping up and down.”

The head coaching job is the first for Dorrell, who was hired on his 39th birthday. He becomes the fourth black coach in Division I, joining Notre Dame’s Tyrone Willingham, San Jose State’s Fitz Hill and New Mexico State’s Tony Samuel.

Dorrell said color had little to do with his hiring.

“They wanted the best man for this job — I believe I’m that person,” he said. “When I decided to be a football coach, I wasn’t going to let any obstacles stand in my way.

“I’m very thankful for this opportunity, I will work my tail off. I’m excited, I’m privileged, I’m honored. It’s been a dream of mine. I’m proud to be a Bruin, proud to be back.”

Toledo guided the Bruins to a 49-32 record in seven years including a 7-5 mark this season. Dorrell played on three Rose Bowl-winning teams under Donahue in the 1980s. Donahue retired after the 1995 season and is now general manager for the San Francisco 49ers.

“My goal is one thing, obviously, and that’s to re-establish the tradition and integrity in our football program,” Dorrell said. “I understand what it takes to play UCLA football. I’m going to be a grass-roots kind of coach, very hands-on.

“I’m going to believe in my players and they’re going to believe in me.”

Dorrell was an assistant coach at the collegiate level for 12 years including four seasons as offensive coordinator at Colorado and another in that position at Washington before joining the Broncos in 2000.

He will leave his job with the Broncos following their game in Oakland on Sunday, but won’t coach the Bruins in next Wednesday’s Las Vegas Bowl against New Mexico.