UCLA Expected to Hire James Madison’s Bob Chesney as Next Head Football Coach

Although the City and UCLA continue to battle over the university’s efforts to terminate its lease with the Rose Bowl, the team is on the verge of making another move.

According to multiple outlets, the Bruins are set to hire James Madison’s Bob Chesney.

ESPN reported that Chesney informed James Madison officials of his decision on Monday, Dec. 1, and is expected to sign a five-year contract with UCLA.

The move ends a 10-week coaching search that began when the Bruins fired Deshaun Foster on Sept. 14.

Chesney has been one of the most sought-after coaches in the country. In two seasons at James Madison, he has compiled a 20–5 record, including an 11–1 mark this year that sent the Dukes to the Sun Belt championship game and placed them in contention for the Group of Five berth in the College Football Playoff. JMU is ranked No. 19 in this week’s US LBM Coaches Poll.

Chesney is expected to finalize his agreement with UCLA after Friday’s Sun Belt title game on Dec. 5.

According to reports, the Bruins will allow him to remain with the Dukes for the College Football Playoff if they qualify.

James Madison has fielded one of the nation’s most balanced teams under Chesney, averaging 37.9 points per game — 10th in FBS — while ranking 10th nationally in scoring defense at 16 points per game.

Before joining JMU, Chesney spent six seasons at Holy Cross, where he won five conference championships and reached the FCS playoffs four times.

His head-coaching career also includes stints at Division III Salve Regina and Division II Assumption.

Chesney will become the 20th head coach in UCLA history and takes over a struggling program in transition.

The Bruins have missed bowl games in back-to-back seasons after moving into the Big Ten, and have struggled since the end of the Chip Kelly era, which concluded with his departure in February 2024.

Foster was fired after an 0–3 start to his second season, and interim coach Tim Skipper finished 3–9.

UCLA has posted only three winning seasons since 2018 and has not won 10 games since 2014. The Bruins also have not captured a conference championship in the 21st century.

The team’s struggles has led to declining attendance in the Rose Bowl. The Bruins averaged just over 37,000 fans per game in 2025 — one of the lowest figures in program history.

Large sections of the stadium have been tarped off, and visiting fans have often outnumbered the home crowd.

The attendance challenges come amid uncertainty about UCLA’s future home stadium. The university has explored moving games to SoFi Stadium, prompting the Rose Bowl Operating Company and the City to sue UCLA for allegedly attempting to break its long-term lease.

UCLA has denied making any official decision about relocating.