UCLA Names JMU’s Bob Chesney as Next Head Coach

The Bruins have their coach of the future

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

UCLA is expected to sign Bob Chesney on a five year deal, Chesney will coach JMU in the Sun-Belt championship against Troy, and will be able to coach if the team makes the College Football Playoffs.

After firing head coach DeShaun Foster on Sept. 14, the Bruins have been searching for a coach to lead them into the future. The Bruins went 3-6 with interim head coach Tim Skipper at the helm.

Who is Bob Chesney?

Holy Cross football head coach Bob Chesney runs a practice at the school earlier this season. | Rick Cinclair/Telegram & Gazette / USA TODAY NETWORK

Bob Chesney has shown that he is a proven winner; he has been successful at Holy Cross, Assumption, and in his final stint with JMU. This season has led the Dukes to an 11-1 record with a good chance of making the college football playoffs.

Throughout his career Chesney has been a winner at every level. At Salve Regina a divison three school, he had a 23-9 record. With Assumption a division two school, he posted an incredible 44-16 record. After that stint he would go to Holy Cross a FCS school, where he would be 44-21.

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

With James Madison, he would go 20-5. This season, he led the Dukes to 11-1 and is currently ranked No. 19 in the entire country. He has also led JMU to the tenth-best defense in the nation, only allowing 16 points per game. The offense is also ranked tenth with 37.8 points per game.

What does this mean for UCLA?

Oct 4, 2025; Pasadena, California, USA; UCLA Bruins quarterback Nico Iamaleava (9,right) hugs new offensive coordinator Jerry Neuheisel after defeating the Penn State Nittany Lions 42-37 at Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images | Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images

What this means for UCLA, is that the program secured a proven winner. JMU has proven to be a very good pipeline for teams ready to make the next step, that last example of this working out is when Indiana hired Curt Cignetti, and as we have seen, this worked out well.

With UCLA moving to SoFi Stadium, the program is clearly aiming to replicate an NFL-style experience. And with a proven winner like Chesney now leading the way, the Bruins appear to be moving in the right direction.

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

More details about the hiring will come once James Madison’s season officially wraps up, but the message is already clear: UCLA is back in business. With Bob Chesney on the way and a move to SoFi Stadium on the horizon, the Bruins are signaling a full reset — one built on winning, professionalism and a modern vision for the program’s future.

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

It will be very interesting to see how the rest of UCLA’s future staff takes shape — and what this hire means for both recruiting and the current roster. A move of this magnitude always comes with ripple effects, from potential portal decisions to renewed interest from high-level recruits.

Ensure you follow on X (Twitter) @UCLAInsideronSI to keep up with every story surrounding UCLA athletics!

Please let us know your thoughts on this when you like our Facebook page WHEN YOU CLICK RIGHT HERE.