UCLA officially announced James Madison’s Bob Chesney as its new head football coach on Saturday.
The announcement came one day after Chesney guided the Dukes to a 31-14 victory over Troy in the Sun Belt championship game.
Chesney, 48, guided James Madison to a 12-1 (8-0 Sun Belt) record this season. He went 9-4 with the Dukes last season, including a victory in the Boca Raton Bowl.
“Bob Chesney has built programs into consistent winners at every stop in his career, and he’s ready to do it at UCLA,” Bruins athletic director Martin Jarmond said. “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.
“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 in a school release. “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.”
Previously the head coach at Holy Cross, Chesney helped that team qualify for the FCS playoffs four times in six seasons.
The three-time Patriot League Coach of the Year compiled a 44-21 record with the Crusaders.
Chesney served as head coach at Division II Assumption (2013-17) and Division III Salve Regina (2010-12) before taking over at Holy Cross.
UCLA had been looking for a head coach since firing DeShaun Foster following an 0-3 start. The Bruins showed progress in October under interim coach Tim Skipper before dropping the final five games on their schedule to finish with a 3-9 (3-6 Big Ten) record.
