UCLA reportedly has ‘top’ target identified in coaching search
By David Wasson
Published:
An oft-overlooked participant in the 2025 college football coaching carousel has been the UCLA Bruins, but it appears the powers-that-be in Westwood have narrowed their search.
James Madison coach Bob Chesney has emerged as a target for UCLA in its effort to replace DeShaun Foster, who was fired in September after the Bruins started the season 0-3. That’s according to a report from CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz:
Chesney is in his 2nd season with the Dukes and has gone 11-1 with a Sun Belt Conference Eastern Division title. James Madison went 9-4 in Chesney’s first season in Harrisonburg. Chesney previously coached at Division III Salve Regina from 2010-12, Division II Assumption from 2013-17 and FCS Holy Cross from 2018-23.
Chesney’s total head coaching record is 131-51 in 16 seasons. Chesney earned the Patriot League Coach of the Year honors 3 times and led the James Madison program to 5 conference championships. He was also an assistant at Johns Hopkins from 2005-09, King’s College from 2003-04, Delaware Valley College in 2002, and Norwich University from 2000-01.
UCLA is looking for its 20th football coach in program history. Foster went 5-10 overall in his tenure and just 3-6 in Big Ten play.
Chesney has also been rumored as a potential replacement for James Franklin at Penn State. His contract at James Madison is worth just under $3 million annually and carries a near-$1.25 million buyout.
An APSE national award-winning writer and editor, David Wasson has almost four decades of experience in the print journalism business in Florida and Alabama. His work has also appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times and several national magazines and websites. He also hosts Gulfshore Sports with David Wasson, weekdays from 3-5 pm across Southwest Florida and on FoxSportsFM.com. His Twitter handle: @JustDWasson.
