Introduction to UCLA’s New Head Football Coach
UCLA has made a significant move in hiring a new head football coach, opting for a vastly different approach than their previous hire nearly two years ago. The Bruins are set to hire James Madison coach Bob Chesney on a five-year contract, as first reported by ESPN’s Pete Thamel. Chesney is expected to remain with his current team through a possible College Football Playoff appearance with the Dukes.
Background and Experience
Chesney’s impressive resume boasts massive success at the Division III, Division II, Football Championship Subdivision, and Football Bowl Subdivision levels. His journey began with hugely successful stints at small college programs Salve Regina and Assumption, which led him to Holy Cross. At Holy Cross, he guided the Crusaders to five consecutive Patriot League championships and four appearances in the FCS playoffs, including their first trip to the quarterfinals in 40 years.
Recent Success at James Madison
The joy ride picked up momentum when Chesney replaced Curt Cignetti at James Madison. After a debut 2024 season in which his team went 9-4, Chesney has guided the Dukes to an 11-1 record this season while going unbeaten in the Sun Belt Conference, putting them in contention for a College Football Playoff bid. James Madison coach Bob Chesney watches his team play Washington State at Bridgeforth Stadium on Nov. 22. (Brien Aho / Getty Images)
Coaching Philosophy
Chesney’s core philosophies include fostering a growth mindset and instilling confidence through competitions in which the celebrations are judged as closely as what happens on the field. “To me,” Chesney said in a video for the Harbaugh Coaching Academy, “it’s that ability to celebrate little successes and then you watch someone just kind of sit up a little taller, swell up a little bit more with pride and then they want to build that confidence, they want to repeat that success.”
Challenges Ahead
Having won over UCLA’s coaching search committee with an outgoing, charismatic personality, the 48-year-old Chesney now must go about using those same traits to woo donors and recruits. UCLA’s name, image, and likeness endeavors are transitioning to new leadership, and Chesney must play a huge role in landing the sort of money the Bruins will need to compete in the Big Ten. A native of Pennsylvania, he’ll also have to establish roots in new territory after having spent his entire life on the East Coast.
Comparison to Previous Hires
Chesney replaces DeShaun Foster, who was fired only three games into the season after having compiled a 5-10 record at his alma mater. The hiring of Chesney represented a vast departure from the strategy UCLA secured to select Foster, a position coach not on anyone else’s short list as a head coaching candidate. Chesney is the first sitting head coach the Bruins have picked since convincing Pepper Rodgers to leave Kansas before the 1971 season.
Historical Context
Luring head coaches from other places has historically been a winning move for UCLA. Tommy Prothro left Oregon State to go 41-18-3 at UCLA — including a victory in the 1966 Rose Bowl — before landing a job with the Rams. Red Sanders departed Vanderbilt — his alma mater — to embark on a golden era of football at UCLA, guiding the Bruins to a 66-19-1 record and a share of the Bruins’ only national championship, in 1954.
Conclusion
The hiring of Bob Chesney as UCLA’s next head football coach marks a significant shift for the program, which is in desperate need of a turnaround. With his proven track record of success and charismatic personality, Chesney is well-equipped to lead the Bruins back to national prominence. As the team approaches the 40-year anniversary of its last Rose Bowl game victory, the pressure is on to deliver results. If all goes well, the coach secured with a proven approach could lead to a return to happier days.
FAQs
Q: Who is UCLA’s new head football coach?
A: Bob Chesney, currently the head coach at James Madison.
Q: What is the length of Chesney’s contract with UCLA?
A: Five years.
Q: What is Chesney’s coaching philosophy?
A: Fostering a growth mindset and instilling confidence through competitions.
Q: What are the challenges facing Chesney at UCLA?
A: Wooing donors and recruits, establishing roots in new territory, and competing in the Big Ten.
Q: Who did Chesney replace as UCLA’s head coach?
A: DeShaun Foster.
