James Madison HC Bob Chesney set to take Big Ten coaching job, per report
By Andrew Olson
Published:
Bob Chesney is reportedly off to the Big Ten. The James Madison head coach has reportedly agreed to a 5-year deal with UCLA.
Chesney has gone 20-5 in 2 seasons at JMU. Per ESPN’s Pete Thamel, Chesney is set to sign with UCLA after the Sun Belt Championship Game. Chesney can reportedly coach the team through the College Football Playoff if James Madison makes the 12-team field.
Sources: James Madison coach Bob Chesney has emerged as the target of UCLA’s coaching search. He’s set to sign a 5-year deal with UCLA that will emerge after James Madison’s Sun Belt championship game. UCLA has agreed for him to coach in the CFP, if JMU makes it. pic.twitter.com/PLznBJoY5r
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) December 1, 2025
James Madison has an 11-1 record entering Conference Championship Week. Depending on how all the games shake out, the Dukes could make the CFP field as one of the 5 highest-ranked conference champions.
Chesney, 48, is rapidly climbing the coaching ladder. He went 23-9 at Division III program Salve Regina from 2010-12. From 2013-17, he led Division II program Assumption College, posting a 44-16 record. It was then on to the Division I ranks, guiding FCS program Holy Cross from 2018-23, going 44-21.
James Madison hired Chesney ahead of the 2024 season after Curt Cignetti’s departure for Indiana.
Andrew writes about sports to fund his love of live music and collection of concert posters. He strongly endorses the Hall of Fame campaigns of Fred Taylor and Andruw Jones.
