UCLA Officially Announces Hiring of Bob Chesney as New Football Head Coach
UCLA has issued the following press release this morning:
LOS ANGELES – Signaling a new era for UCLA Football, Martin Jarmond, UCLA’s Alice and Nahum Lainer Family Director of Athletics, announced today the hiring of James Madison’s Bob Chesney as the next head coach of the Bruins. Chesney becomes the 20th head coach in UCLA Football history and the first sitting head coach hired by UCLA since Pepper Rodgers in 1971.
“Bob Chesney has built programs into consistent winners at every stop in his career, and he’s ready to do it at UCLA,” said Jarmond. “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.”
Chesney will be officially introduced at a press conference on campus Tuesday, Dec. 9.
“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,” said UCLA Chancellor Julio Frenk. “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.”
Chesney brings to UCLA more than 25 years of collegiate coaching experience, including 16 seasons as a head coach. He has won eight conference championships and holds a career coaching record of 132-51 (.721). He has produced 13 All-Americans (2 FBS, 11 FCS) and two Academic All-Americans.
Most recently, Chesney spent two seasons as head coach at James Madison (2024-25), guiding the Dukes to a 21-5 record. His 2025 team recorded just the 10th unbeaten conference record in Sun Belt history, going 8-0, and captured the program’s first-ever Sun Belt Conference Football Championship on Dec. 5 to improve its record to 12-1. The Dukes are currently in the College Football Playoff (CFP) ranking for the first time in school history, debuting at No. 25, and have achieved their highest AP ranking in program history at No. 19. Chesney was awarded the 2025 Sun Belt Coach of the Year and named one of 24 semifinalists for the 2025 George Munger College Coach of the Year Award, presented annually by the Maxwell Football Club.
In his first season leading James Madison in 2024, Chesney led the Dukes to a 9-4 overall record and to its first bowl championship after a victory in the 2024 Boca Raton Bowl. He made history by becoming the program’s first head coach to win his first four games in his first season and was named the 2024 Virginia Sports Information Directors University Division Coach of the Year. Chesney’s 2024 Dukes were ranked 21st nationally in scoring defense and 26th nationally in scoring offense.
“I’d like to thank Martin Jarmond, Chancellor Julio Frenk and the search committee for this incredible opportunity to lead the UCLA Football program,” said Chesney. “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.”
Prior to James Madison, Chesney led Holy Cross to unprecedented success in his six seasons as head coach (2018-23), winning a program-record five consecutive Patriot League Championships and posting an overall record of 44-21. He is a three-time Patriot League Coach of the Year (2019, 2021, 2022) and was twice named the New England Football Writers Coach of the Year (2021, 2022).
Holy Cross’s record of 29-8 from 2021-23 was the program’s best three-year stretch in 30 years, with wins against FBS opponents in back-to-back seasons (2021, 2022). The 2022 Crusaders went undefeated in the regular season and received a FCS quarterfinal berth, finishing No. 6 in the AFCA Coaches Poll. He was named the AFCA FCS Region 1 Coach of the Year following that historic season.
From 2013-17, Chesney led Division II Assumption College to a record of 44-16, including five-straight winning seasons and NCAA Division II playoff appearances in each of his final three years. He earned Northeast-10 Conference Coach of the Year honors twice at Assumption.
Chesney began his head coaching career in 2012 at Division III Salve Regina, rebuilding a program that had gone through eight-straight losing seasons. Over three winning seasons in 2010-12, his teams posted a 23-9 record and reached the New England Football Conference championship game in his final year.
As an assistant, Chesney’s coaching stops included Johns Hopkins (2005-09), King’s College (2003-04), Delaware Valley College (2002) and Norwich University (2000-01).
Chesney grew up in Kulpmont, Pa., and earned his degree in 2000 from Dickinson College, where he was a four-year letterwinner as a defensive back. A two-time second-team All-Centennial Conference selection, Chesney received the team’s Vincent Correal MVP Award in 1997.
Chesney and his wife, Andrea, have two daughters, Lyla and Hudson, and one son, Bo.
The search committee was led by Jarmond and included Founder and CEO of Wasserman Casey Wasserman, UC Regent and President of Sports for Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment Bob Myers, Washington Commanders General Manager Adam Peters, San Francisco 49ers player and UCLA football alumnus Eric Kendricks and UCLA Executive Senior Associate Athletics Director Erin Adkins.
“Martin Jarmond led a comprehensive and rigorous search that attracted an exceptional caliber of candidates, serving as a testament to the prestige of the UCLA Football program,” said Wasserman. “Amidst a crowded field of elite talent, Bob Chesney stood out as the clear choice. His track record of building championship cultures is undeniable, and his vision for excellence makes him the perfect fit to lead us into this new era.”
For more information about Head Coach Bob Chesney, the UCLA Football program, and to buy tickets visit uclabruins.com/MeetCoachChesney.
So, Coach Chesney’s hiring is now official!
Again, welcome to Westwood, Coach Chesney!
Go Bruins!!!
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"UCLA is willing to do what it takes to build a championship-level program."
On this beautiful Saturday morning in Southern California, I'm going to blissfully interpret that statement as "Goodbye, Martin!".
Bob Chesney's heartfelt words show his genuine, steady and strong character. The leadership he speaks of will be his alone.
Blockhead 2.0 and Donut Head Jelly 2.0 offer the same verbal bag of canned garbage.
The two Heads and their Holes will be relegated to Chesney's shadow. The contrast will be ever present.
But imho, Chesney will be Football's Wooden. He will rise above, and he will begin with how to put your socks and cleats on.
God bless you Bob Chesney and with open arms and all of our hearts, welcome to our beloved UCLA.
💙💛💙💛