Bob Chesney’s Opening Statement as UCLA Head Coach

The Bruin's new head coach gives his opening statement

Sep 5, 2025; Louisville, Kentucky, USA; James Madison Dukes head coach Bob Chesney talks with tight end Lacota Dippre (15) during the first quarter against the Louisville Cardinals at L&N Federal Credit Union Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Rhodes-Imagn Images | Jamie Rhodes-Imagn Images

Bob Chesney arrived in Westwood and delivered his opening statement — his first as the Bruins’ new head coach. While the hire is not yet officially finalized, as James Madison still has its College Football Playoff matchup against Oregon, his introduction marks the beginning of a new era for UCLA.

Thank you, everybody, for being here. Thank you for this opportunity, and just know that we're going to get after it pretty quickly here. We have a little bit of work to take care of back home. We're coming up here this week or in two weeks, but ultimately, we're going to start building a staff. We're going to focus on making sure we begin to build this thing the right way, and I look forward to meeting each one of you very soon. I’m really proud to be here, and I can’t thank you enough. Go Bruins!

Bob Chesney's Opening Statment

Key Takeaways

Sep 21, 2024; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; James Madison Dukes head coach Bob Chesney on the sidelines in the second quarter at Kenan Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images | Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

For starters, Chesney expressed deep gratitude for the opportunity to lead the Bruins — but in many ways, the appreciation should go both ways. By securing a College Football Playoff–caliber coach, UCLA may have saved its program from veering off track for the next five years.

From his statement, it’s clear that it will be some time before the Bruins finalize their coaching staff — and for good reason. As mentioned earlier, Chesney still has a major challenge ahead of him when James Madison faces Oregon. It’s tough news for Dukes fans, but undeniably great news for Bruins fans.

Holy Cross coach Bob Chesney blows his whistle to end warmups before Saturday's game at Fitton Field. | Photo/Alan Arsenault / USA TODAY NETWORK

Although JMU enters the postseason as the No. 12 seed, the program has plenty to be proud of — especially considering the caliber of competition they faced this year.

The Dukes finished 12–1, carried by several standout individual performances throughout the season. With Chesney now headed to UCLA, the Bruins will certainly hope to bring a few of those impact players with him on his way out.

Holy Cross head coach Bob Chesney runs onto the field with the team for their homecoming game versus Colgate University on Saturday September 23, 2023 at Fitton Field in Worcester. | Photo/Alan Arsenault / USA TODAY NETWORK

The Bruins’ future was officially in the building on Monday. It is safe to say that UCLA has found itself a true winner — a coach who has proven his ability at every level of college football throughout his career.

Holy Cross football coach Bob Chesney talks to the team after Saturday's spring game. HC 20 | Photo/Alan Arsenault / USA TODAY NETWORK

Chesney brings a track record of culture-building, player development, and consistent success, qualities the Bruins have desperately needed. His arrival signals a fresh direction for the program and a renewed belief that UCLA can once again compete on a national stage.

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