This post was updated Dec. 5 at 5:26 p.m.
The Chesney era is about to begin.
James Madison coach Bob Chesney is set to become UCLA football’s next coach – news that will be confirmed after JMU’s Sun Belt Championship game on Friday against Troy, according to ESPN.
The new head coach is set to sign a five-year deal with the university.
Chesney – the Bruins’ fourth coach since the end of the 2023 season – comes to Westwood with 16 years of head coaching experience between JMU, Holy Cross, Assumption and Salve Regina.
UCLA’s new head honcho comes most recently off a two-year stint in Harrisonburg, Virginia, where he led the Dukes to a combined 20-5 record, a Boca Raton Bowl victory in 2024 and a potential 2025 College Football Playoff appearance. UCLA reportedly agreed Chesney could coach in the CFP if James Madison makes it.
Chesney joins a Bruin side coming off a 3-9 season – the program’s worst record since 2018 – when the head coach, offensive coordinator and defensive coordinator that started the season were all gone after just the fourth game.
It is yet to be determined if Chesney will keep the Bruins’ offensive and defensive play callers – assistant head coach and tight ends coach Jerry Neuheisel and senior defensive analyst Kevin Coyle, respectively – from the remaining eight games of the season.
UCLA has also yet to announce if interim head coach Tim Skipper will return to the Bruins after leading them to a 3-6 record following the departure of former head coach DeShaun Foster. Skipper was the special assistant to the head coach when Foster was helming the squad.
Chesney could also bring along James Madison’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, Dean Kennedy and defensive coordinator Colin Hitschler to fill out his coaching trio.
Kennedy – who traveled with Chesney from Holy Cross after two seasons together – is in his second year helming the Dukes’ offense and led an offense that ranked top 30 in the nation in seven categories, including scoring offense, rushing offense and passing efficiency.
Hitschler, who is in his first season leading the Dukes’ defensive unit, was the co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach for the Crimson Tide, where he helped lead a defense that ranked fifth in the country in turnovers, including his safeties taking 16 of the team’s 28 interceptions.
Before joining Alabama, Hitschler spent six seasons under coach Luke Fickell at Wisconsin and Cincinnati. In his one year at Wisconsin, the Badgers ranked No. 20 in scoring defense, and, in his four years for the Bearcats, he led a defense that placed top 25 in the nation in scoring and total defenses, including back-to-back top-10 rankings in 2020 and 2021.
Chesney brings a winning resume to Westwood, earning a 44-21 record over six seasons at Holy Cross, a 44-16 record in five seasons at Assumption and a 23-9 slate over three years at Salve Regina.
Over his 16 years of head coaching experience, Chesney has garnered five double-digit win seasons and just one losing year. At Holy Cross, he led the team to five consecutive Patriot League championships and four NCAA FCS playoff appearances from 2019-2022.
Chesney’s entrance could result in a swinging door of entering and exiting players, as a vacancy at James Madison could push players west, and, the remnants of the Bruins’ 2025 campaign – combined with the changing coaching staff – could result in players leaving Westwood.
Chief among departing players could be redshirt sophomore quarterback Nico Iamaleava, who told reporters after the USC defeat that he has yet to make a decision on his future.
If Iamaleava were to leave, it opens up the door for James Madison quarterback Alonza Barnett III, who still has eligibility and could follow Chesney to the West Coast.
Barnett has combined for 5,038 passing yards and 46 touchdowns through the air on just 11 interceptions through two seasons as the Dukes’ starter. He also boasts dual threat ability, rushing for 901 yards and 20 touchdowns as the team’s starting signal caller.
And, if Barnett comes to Westwood, he may not be alone.
But Bruin fans will have to wait until the transfer portal opens Jan. 2 to find out.
UCLA Athletics declined to comment. James Madison University Athletics also did not respond in time to a request for comment.
