Bob Chesney Stays Focused Amid Early UCLA Praise

The Bruins' head football coach knows more work remains before the season can begin.

Dec 9, 2025; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Bob Chesney is introduced as UCLA Bruins football coach at press conference at Renee Luskin Conference Center Centennial Ballroom. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

The start of the Bob Chesney Era at UCLA has been met with sudden optimism as he attempts to turn the Bruins' football program around. It's been a rough go for the team since it joined the Big Ten three years ago, and the UCLA faithful are eager to get back to winning.

But while there have been positive signs throughout the spring, and he certainly appears to be shifting the culture as a whole, Chesney has been adamant that nothing has been accomplished yet.

"We haven't played any games yet. We haven't done much except for practice," he said as he spoke with the media after Tuesday's practice. "But I think what they're identifying is that it's just a little bit different this time."

Different could do UCLA some good. There was never a moment that instilled much confidence under the previous regime, and aside from a few decent seasons under Jim Mora Jr. and Chip Kelly, the football team has really plateaued as an average team in college football.

Chesney's Turnaround

Dec 9, 2025; Los Angeles, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins football coach Bob Chesney poses at introductory press conference at Renee Luskin Conference Center Centennial Ballroom. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

What's different about Chesney and his players and staff is the upbeat attitude. They're attacking every day with the intention of winning the day and improving little by little. They're also much more confident than recent UCLA teams have seemed, and much of that stems from past success in similar situations.

All of that is translating to healthy competition throughout practice, which, if done well and often enough, should lead to more competitiveness on the field and a more exciting team for fans, alumni, and others invested in the program to watch.

This is the cost. #4sup pic.twitter.com/vSsXvWc5TJ

— UCLA Football (@UCLAFootball) April 21, 2026

"That's what they're seeing it as," Chesney added. "And as they go through it, in my mind, I imagine that they're proud of watching the competitive nature out here and watching the organizational side of it and getting a feel for a lot of those things."

It's still only spring, and much can change throughout the next few months. UCLA is certainly on a path to improvement, but the Bruins won't be a finished product until the regular season is much closer, and it could take a few games.

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

"We just have so much more work to do," Chesney noted. "I think the compliments are really nice, but it doesn't change anything that we do out here. I appreciate the support, and it's needed. There's never been a time in the history of college football where these guys, these alums, and other people can help change a team very, very quickly, and they have that power now. So it's cool to have a bunch of them on board."