The UCLA Bruins have hired James Madison University’s Bob Chesney to be their next head football coach, the school announced Saturday.
The 48-year-old Chesney, who boasts a 132-51 record in 16 seasons as a head coach — including a 12-1 record this year with the Dukes — will take over a Bruins program coming off its losingest season, a 3-9 campaign marked by the Sept. 14 firing of former head coach DeShaun Foster. Foster was replaced on an interim basis by Tim Skipper.
Chesney will be formally introduced Tuesday at a campus news conference.
“Bob Chesney has built programs into consistent winners at every stop in his career, and he’s ready to do it at UCLA,” UCLA Athletic Director Martin Jarmond said in a statement Saturday. “From 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’s a leader, a consensus builder and a developer of young men, and I’m thrilled to welcome him and his family to Westwood,” Jarmond added.
“I’d like to thank Martin Jarmond, Chancellor Julio Frenk and the search committee for this incredible opportunity to lead the UCLA football program,” Chesney said. “Through our many conversations, it became abundantly clear to me that UCLA is willing to do what it takes to build a championship-level program. UCLA 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’s administration, alumni and fanbase. Their pride, their energy and their willingness to support and invest in this program’s rise create powerful momentum for what’s ahead. Leadership is ready. The alumni are ready. The fanbase is ready. And I am ready. I look forward to working together as we bring this program to the standard of excellence it deserves,” Chesney continued.
With its 12-1 record, James Madison has a chance to qualify for the college football playoffs when the field of 12 teams is announced on Sunday. Plans for the Dukes’ coaching duties should they made the playoffs were not immediately clear.
Prior to his hiring at James Madison for the 2024 season, Chesney was the head coach at Holy Cross from 2018-23, at Division II Assumption from 2013-17, and at Division III Salve Regina from 2010-12.
He grew up in Pennsylvania and earned a degree from Dickinson College, where he played defensive back.
“I am pleased to welcome Coach Bob Chesney to UCLA to lead and develop our football program both on the field and in the classroom,” Frenk said. “Coach Chesney has a proven track record of building champions and winning programs, and his philosophy of developing student-athletes in all aspects of their growth aligns closely with our Bruin values. I commend Martin Jarmond for leading this search committee process and am thankful to the members of the committee for identifying someone who is an excellent fit for the Bruins. We all look forward to beginning this bold, new chapter for UCLA football.”