New UCLA football coach Bob Chesney impresses high

As far as first impressions go, new UCLA football coach Bob Chesney has been hitting the ball out of the park, according to high college coaches who have been receiving visits since Chesney began focusing on introducing himself to local coaches when the school switch portal closed on Jan. 16.

“He’s a high-energy guy who has a clear vision,” St. John Bosco coach Jason Negro said. “He’s going to bring some excitement back. I was highly impressed. If he’s going to execute what his plan is, he’s going to have immediate success.”

There are so many Chesney sightings at high colleges around Southern California, you have got to surprise if he’s also scouting for a new home, but that’s most likely left to his spouse. On his go to to St. John Bosco, his driver was former St. John Bosco assistant Marshawn Friloux, a holdover in the Bruins’ recruiting division from the earlier workers.

Bellflower coach Keith Miller, whose son, Austin, is one of the top tight ends from the category of 2029, received a college go to from Chesney, who also met Miller’s spouse. Austin was supplied a scholarship on Saturday after an unofficial go to to Westwood.

Miller said Chesney was eloquent and clear, telling his son, “I didn’t just watch your film, I studied it and what stood out to me are the multiple efforts you make, especially your ‘scoop and score’ vs. Oxnard. Multiple effort playmakers are special. All great players have that trait. That’s what I love about you.”

UCLA has also been making early scholarship presents far more than the times when Chip Kelly refused to be part of that pattern. Things began to change under former coach DeShaun Foster and Chesney’s new recruiting philosophy seems to be to get UCLA concerned among a number of prospects in all grades and be aggressive in Southern California, where coaches from USC, Oregon, California, Notre Dame, Nebraska, Oregon State and Washington have been among those making the rounds last week while making scholarship presents.

As an instance of the problem Chesney faces, USC coach Lincoln Riley introduced in the No. 1 recruiting class this yr and was visiting the No. 1 participant for the category of 2027 in California, defensive back/working back Honor Fa’alave-Johnson from San Diego Cathedral Catholic.

“I think he’s got a vision and a belief to develop kids and not create this transactional culture in college football,” Orange Lutheran coach Rod Sherman said of Chesney. “I think you’d be a fool to sleep on UCLA the next few years. He’s super personable. What I sense from him is they have well thought out recruiting strategy and they’re not throwing spaghetti against the wall. He knows which kids can be successful in his culture and system and thrive and love UCLA.”

But NIL sources stay crucial in this new period, and some gamers and dad and mom will continue to place that precedence over others. That will require Chesney to discover those “diamonds in the rough” from his James Madison teaching days.

Negro said, “He’s going to fit to what is needed for the program. He’s not normally going to focus just on the stars. He’s done that at a lower level. He’s going to find some foundational players. It’s going to be hard at first. If people have expectations they’re going to pull an Indiana, that’s premature. But UCLA is closer than people think. This guy is very dynamic, hard-driven and understands L.A.”

Said Servite coach Chris Reinert: “He’s doing things the right way. He seems to be hitting the ground running. He spent an hour here.”

Chesney promised in his opening news convention in December that he needed to construct relationships with high college coaches, and Negro confirmed Chesney is inviting coaches to go to UCLA. That’s commonplace. Reinert said USC’s Riley did the same.

Chesney dropped by City Section college Hamilton, which has a top Class of 2029 quarterback in Thaddeus Breaux. Then Breaux was supplied a scholarship. Hamilton coach Elijah Asante said, “Coach Chesney is a grinder and he’s going to find those hidden gems.”

Expect more Chesney sightings this week until the recruiting period closes at the end of this week.