UCLA officially hires Bob Chesney, but who will be

UCLA snagged its new soccer coach Saturday, formally asserting the hiring of Bob Chesney a little more than 13 hours after the outgoing James Madison coach guided his group to the Sun Belt Conference championship.

Now comes the matter of who Chesney may deliver with him after he’s launched on campus Tuesday.

It’s most likely protected to assume that Chesney will retain at least a first rate chunk of his current employees as half of a cross-country transfer from Harrisonburg, Va.

Eight of Chesney’s assistant coaches at James Madison have spent a number of years working with him, some of the connections going back to Chesney’s days at Salve Regina in Division III.

Dukes offensive coordinator Dean Kennedy and defensive coordinator Colin Hitschler might offer the Bruins one thing Chesney doesn’t possess — expertise at the Power Four convention stage. Kennedy once labored in the Southeastern Conference, serving as a graduate assistant at Mississippi State and a graduate assistant, offensive high quality control coach and assistant quarterbacks coach at Florida.

Hitschler was co-defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach at Alabama in 2024 before reconnecting with Chesney prior to the 2025 season. Both Kennedy and Hitschler had been wildly profitable with the Dukes, their models rating in the top 10 in the nation in scoring offense and protection, respectively.

UCLA’s season opener against California on Sept. 5 at Memorial Stadium in Berkeley will signify Chesney’s first recreation as a head coach or an assistant at the Power Four stage. He’s received in every single place else after rising from Division III to Division II to the Football Championship Subdivision to the Football Bowl Subdivision, compiling a 132-51 file along the way in which.

“Bob Chesney has built programs into consistent winners at every stop in his career, and he’s ready to do it at UCLA,” UCLA athletic director Martin Jarmond said in a assertion. “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.”

In two seasons at James Madison, Chesney went 21-5, including a 12-1 file in 2025 that was made attainable in half by the group’s having posted six second-half shutouts. UCLA has agreed to enable Chesney to continue teaching the Dukes for any College Football Playoff run ought to they be one of the 12 groups chosen Sunday.

Chesney thanked Jarmond, UCLA chancellor Julio Frenk and a search committee that included sports activities government Casey Wasserman, former Golden State Warriors normal supervisor Bob Myers, Washington Commanders normal supervisor Adam Peters, UCLA government senior affiliate athletic director Erin Adkins and former Bruins star linebacker Eric Kendricks for giving him this alternative.

“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,” Chesney said in a assertion. “UCLA is a very special place. From its stellar academics, impactful alumni, geographic location and deep recruiting base, this is a program that can and will win at the highest level. UCLA has every ingredient necessary, but what has truly stood out to me is the passion of UCLA’s administration, alumni and fan base. Their pride, their energy and their willingness to support and invest in this program’s rise create powerful momentum for what’s ahead. Leadership is ready. The alumni are ready. The fan base is ready. And I am ready. I look forward to working together as we bring this program to the standard of excellence it deserves.”

Chesney, 48, turns into the first sitting head coach employed by the Bruins since they lured Pepper Rodgers from Kansas in 1971. He will inherit a title, image and likeness operation that is transitioning to Champion of Westwood, a third-party media and branding company that also works with other groups on campus. Meanwhile, Bruins for Life will change into a third-party alumni group and mentorship program.

Any UCLA assistants hoping to stick around may need a shot based on Chesney’s hiring historical past. When he arrived at James Madison before the 2024 season, Chesney retained two incumbent members of the Dukes employees in offensive line coach Damian Wroblewski and cornerbacks coach Eddie Whitley Jr.

Chesney said upon the completion of his employees in mid-January 2024 that he was looking for “competency, connection and chemistry” in his coaches.

Restocking his UCLA roster might be a considerably more burdensome activity. The Bruins managed zero first-, second- or third-team All-Big Ten alternatives this season, displaying how a lot expertise is needed to compete at a high stage. Gifted vast receiver Rico Flores Jr. is among a handful of Bruins who have entered the switch portal after the group completed 3-9 following its season-ending loss to USC.

Fortunately for Chesney, he might have more than a few acquainted faces keen to speed up his rebuilding efforts after agreeing to a five-year contract to exchange DeShaun Foster. James Madison totaled a school-record 20 All-Sun Belt Conference alternatives this season, including the participant of the 12 months in redshirt junior quarterback Alonza Barnett III and the freshman of the 12 months in defensive lineman Sahir West.

Another first-team all-conference choice with remaining eligibility was redshirt junior operating back Wayne Knight.

Chesney will also have to prioritize retaining as many of UCLA’s top gamers with remaining eligibility as attainable. Among those who might contribute to a fast rise in 2026 are quarterback Nico Iamaleava; vast receiver Kwazi Gilmer; guard Eugene Brooks; defensive back Kanye Clark; linebackers Jalen Woods, JuJu Walls and Scott Taylor; edge rusher Cole Cogshell; operating back Karson Cox; defensive lineman Siale Taupaki; and kicker Mateen Bhaghani.

UCLA’s high faculty recruiting class that has grown to 16 gamers thanks to a few additions Chesney was beforehand recruiting at James Madison is principally stuffed with developmental gamers who might contribute after a season or two.

The most important date to circle on the UCLA soccer calendar is Jan. 2. That’s when the switch portal opens. The Bruins and their new coach determine to be busy.