UCLA snagged its new football coach Saturday, formally announcing the hiring of Bob Chesney a little more than 13 hours after the outgoing James Madison coach guided his team to the Sun Belt Conference championship.<\/p>\n
Now comes the matter of who Chesney might bring with him after he\u2019s introduced on campus Tuesday. It\u2019s probably safe to assume that Chesney will retain at least a decent chunk of his current staff as part of a cross-country move from Harrisonburg, Va. Eight of Chesney\u2019s assistant coaches at James Madison have spent multiple years working with him, some of the connections going back to Chesney\u2019s days at Salve Regina in Division III.<\/p>\n
Dukes offensive coordinator Dean Kennedy and defensive coordinator Colin Hitschler could offer the Bruins something Chesney doesn\u2019t possess \u2014 experience at the Power Four conference level. Kennedy once worked in the Southeastern Conference, serving as a graduate assistant at Mississippi State and a graduate assistant, offensive quality control coach and assistant quarterbacks coach at Florida. Hitschler was co-defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach at Alabama in 2024 before reconnecting with Chesney prior to the 2025 season. Both Kennedy and Hitschler were wildly successful with the Dukes, their units ranking in the top 10 in the nation in scoring offense and defense, respectively.<\/p>\n
UCLA\u2019s season opener against California on Sept. 5 at Memorial Stadium in Berkeley will represent Chesney\u2019s first game as a head coach or an assistant at the Power Four level. He\u2019s won everywhere else after rising from Division III to Division II to the Football Championship Subdivision to the Football Bowl Subdivision, compiling a 132-51 record along the way.<\/p>\n
\u201cBob Chesney has built programs into consistent winners at every stop in his career, and he\u2019s ready to do it at UCLA,\u201d UCLA athletic director Martin Jarmond said in a statement. \u201cFrom our very first conversation, he articulated a clear vision of success for UCLA football and a plan to elevate our program back to national prominence. From his detail-oriented approach to running a program to his ability to connect, Bob impressed our search committee every step of the way. He\u2019s a leader, a consensus builder and a developer of young men, and I\u2019m thrilled to welcome him and his family to Westwood.\u201d<\/p>\n
In two seasons at James Madison, Chesney went 21-5, including a 12-1 record in 2025 that was made possible in part by the team\u2019s having posted six second-half shutouts. UCLA has agreed to allow Chesney to continue coaching the Dukes for any College Football Playoff run should they be one of the 12 teams selected Sunday. Chesney thanked Jarmond, UCLA chancellor Julio Frenk and a search committee that included sports executive Casey Wasserman, former Golden State Warriors general manager Bob Myers, Washington Commanders general manager Adam Peters, UCLA executive senior associate athletic director Erin Adkins and former Bruins star linebacker Eric Kendricks for giving him this opportunity.<\/p>\n
\u201cThrough our many conversations, it became abundantly clear to me that UCLA is willing to do what it takes to build a championship-level program,\u201d Chesney said in a statement. \u201cUCLA is a very special place. From its stellar academics, impactful alumni, geographic location and deep recruiting base, this is a program that can and will win at the highest level. UCLA has every ingredient necessary, but what has truly stood out to me is the passion of UCLA\u2019s administration, alumni and fan base. Their pride, their energy and their willingness to support and invest in this program\u2019s rise create powerful momentum for what\u2019s ahead. Leadership is ready. The alumni are ready. The fan base is ready. And I am ready. I look forward to working together as we bring this program to the standard of excellence it deserves.\u201d<\/p>\n
Chesney, 48, becomes the first sitting head coach hired by the Bruins since they lured Pepper Rodgers from Kansas in 1971. He will inherit a name, image and likeness operation that is transitioning to Champion of Westwood, a third-party media and branding agency that also works with other teams on campus. Meanwhile, Bruins for Life will become a third-party alumni group and mentorship program. Any UCLA assistants hoping to stick around might have a shot based on Chesney\u2019s hiring history. When he arrived at James Madison before the 2024 season, Chesney retained two incumbent members of the Dukes staff in offensive line coach Damian Wroblewski and cornerbacks coach Eddie Whitley Jr.<\/p>\n
Restocking his UCLA roster could be a significantly more burdensome task. The Bruins managed zero first-, second- or third-team All-Big Ten selections this season, showing how much talent is needed to compete at a high level. Gifted wide receiver Rico Flores Jr. is among a handful of Bruins who have entered the transfer portal after the team finished 3-9 following its season-ending loss to USC.<\/p>\n
Fortunately for Chesney, he could have more than a few familiar faces eager to accelerate his rebuilding efforts after agreeing to a five-year contract to replace DeShaun Foster. James Madison totaled a school-record 20 All-Sun Belt Conference selections this season, including the player of the year in redshirt junior quarterback Alonza Barnett III and the freshman of the year in defensive lineman Sahir West. Another first-team all-conference selection with remaining eligibility was redshirt junior running back Wayne Knight.<\/p>\n
Chesney will also have to prioritize keeping as many of UCLA\u2019s top players with remaining eligibility as possible. Among those who could contribute to a rapid rise in 2026 are quarterback Nico Iamaleava; wide receiver Kwazi Gilmer; guard Eugene Brooks; defensive back Kanye Clark; linebackers Jalen Woods, JuJu Walls and Scott Taylor; edge rusher Cole Cogshell; running back Karson Cox; defensive lineman Siale Taupaki; and kicker Mateen Bhaghani. UCLA\u2019s high school recruiting class that has grown to 16 players thanks to a few additions Chesney was previously recruiting at James Madison is mostly filled with developmental players who could contribute after a season or two.<\/p>\n
Q: Who is UCLA’s new football coach?
\nA: Bob Chesney, the outgoing James Madison coach, has been hired as UCLA’s new football coach.
\nQ: Who might Chesney bring with him to UCLA?
\nA: Chesney is likely to retain at least some of his current staff from James Madison, including offensive coordinator Dean Kennedy and defensive coordinator Colin Hitschler.
\nQ: What is Chesney’s experience at the Power Four conference level?
\nA: Chesney has no experience as a head coach or assistant at the Power Four conference level, but he has won at every other level, compiling a 132-51 record.
\nQ: What are UCLA’s biggest challenges in the upcoming season?
\nA: Restocking the roster and keeping top players with remaining eligibility will be significant challenges for Chesney and the Bruins.
\nQ: When does the transfer portal open?
\nA: The transfer portal opens on January 2, which will be an important date for the Bruins and their new coach.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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