Football
Bob Chesney
- Title:
- Head Coach
- Alma Mater:
- Dickinson College, '00
- Year at UCLA:
- 1st in 2026
Bob Chesney's Bio (PDF)
Signaling a new era for UCLA Football, Martin Jarmond, UCLAโs Alice and Nahum Lainer Family Director of Athletics, announced the hiring of James Madisonโs Bob Chesney as the next head coach of the Bruins on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025. Chesney becomes the 20th head coach in UCLA Football history and the first sitting head coach hired by UCLA since Pepper Rodgers in 1971.
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โBob Chesney has built programs into consistent winners at every stop in his career, and heโs ready to do it at UCLA,โ said Jarmond. โFrom 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. Heโs a leader, a consensus builder and a developer of young men, and Iโm thrilled to welcome him and his family to Westwood.โ
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โI am pleased to welcome Coach Bob Chesney to UCLA to lead and develop our football program both on the field and in the classroom,โ said UCLA Chancellor Julio Frenk. "Coach Chesney has a proven track record of building champions and winning programs, and his philosophy of developing student-athletes in all aspects of their growth aligns closely with our Bruin values. I commend Martin Jarmond for leading this search committee process and am thankful to the members of the committee for identifying someone who is an excellent fit for the Bruins. We all look forward to beginning this bold, new chapter for UCLA Football.โ
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Chesney brings to UCLA more than 25 years of collegiate coaching experience, including 16 seasons as a head coach. He has won eight conference championships and holds a career coaching record of 132-51 (.721). He has produced 10 All-Americans (1 FBS, 9 FCS) and three Academic All-Americans.
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Most recently, Chesney spent two seasons as head coach at James Madison (2024-25), guiding the Dukes to a 21-5 record. His 2025 team recorded just the 10th unbeaten conference record in Sun Belt history, going 8-0, and captured the programโs first-ever Sun Belt Conference Football Championship on Dec. 5 to improve its record to 12-1. The Dukes are currently in the College Football Playoff (CFP) ranking for the first time in school history, debuting at No. 25, and have achieved their highest AP ranking in program history at No. 19. Chesney was awarded the 2025 Sun Belt Coach of the Year and named one of 24 semifinalists for the 2025 George Munger College Coach of the Year Award, presented annually by the Maxwell Football Club.
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In his first season leading James Madison in 2024, Chesney led the Dukes to a 9-4 overall record and to its first bowl championship after a victory in the 2024 Boca Raton Bowl. He made history by becoming the programโs first head coach to win his first four games in his first season and was named the 2024 Virginia Sports Information Directors University Division Coach of the Year. Chesneyโs 2024 Dukes were ranked 21st nationally in scoring defense and 26th nationally in scoring offense.
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โIโd like to thank Martin Jarmond, Chancellor Julio Frenk and the search committee for this incredible opportunity to lead the UCLA Football program,โ said Chesney. โThrough our many conversations, it became abundantly clear to me that UCLA is willing to do what it takes to build a championship-level program. 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 UCLAโs administration, alumni and fanbase. Their pride, their energy and their willingness to support and invest in this programโs rise create powerful momentum for whatโs ahead. Leadership is ready. The alumni are ready. The fanbase is ready. And I am ready. I look forward to working together as we bring this program to the standard of excellence it deserves.โ
ย
Prior to James Madison, Chesney led Holy Cross to unprecedented success in his six seasons as head coach (2018-23), winning a program-record five consecutive Patriot League Championships and posting an overall record of 44-21. He is a three-time Patriot League Coach of the Year (2019, 2021, 2022) and was twice named the New England Football Writers Coach of the Year (2021, 2022).
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Holy Crossโs record of 29-8 from 2021-23 was the programโs best three-year stretch in 30 years, with wins against FBS opponents in back-to-back seasons (2021, 2022). The 2022 Crusaders went undefeated in the regular season and received a FCS quarterfinal berth, finishing No. 6 in the AFCA Coaches Poll. He was named the AFCA FCS Region 1 Coach of the Year following that historic season.
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From 2013-17, Chesney led Division II Assumption College to a record of 44-16, including five-straight winning seasons and NCAA Division II playoff appearances in each of his final three years. He earned Northeast-10 Conference Coach of the Year honors twice at Assumption.
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Chesney began his head coaching career in 2012 at Division III Salve Regina, rebuilding a program that had gone through eight-straight losing seasons. Over three winning seasons in 2010-12, his teams posted a 23-9 record and reached the New England Football Conference championship game in his final year.
ย
As an assistant, Chesneyโs coaching stops included Johns Hopkins (2005-09), Kingโs College
(2003-04), Delaware Valley College (2002) and Norwich University (2000-01).
ย
Chesney grew up in Kulpmont, Pa., and earned his degree in 2000 from Dickinson College, where he was a four-year letterwinner as a defensive back. A two-time second-team All-Centennial Conference selection, Chesney received the teamโs Vincent Correal MVP Award in 1997.
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Chesney and his wife, Andrea, have two daughters, Lyla and Hudson, and one son, Bo.
Bob Chesneyโs Coaching Experience
2000, 2001 โ Graduate Assistant, Norwich (NCAA DIII)
2002 โ Defensive Coordinator, Delaware Valley (NCAA DIII)
2003, 2004 โ Special Teams Coordinator, Kingโs College (NCAA DIII)
2005, 2006 โ Special Teams Coordinator/Defensive Backs, John Hopkins (NCAA DIII)
2007, 2008 โ Defensive Coordinator/Special Teams Coordinator/Defensive Backs, John Hopkins (NCAA DIII)
2009 โ Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Backs, John Hopkins (NCAA DIII)
2010-12 โ Head Coach, Salve Regina (NCAA DIII)
2013-17 โ Head Coach, Assumption (NCAA DII)
2018-23 โ Head Coach, Holy Cross (FCS)
2024, 2025 โ Head Coach, James Madison
2026 โ Head Coach, UCLA
Bob Chesney's Year-by-Year Head Coaching Recordย
School NCAA Division is FBS unless otherwise noted
* indicates regular season conference championship
^ indicates conference championship game victory
% indicates conference championship game appearance
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Signaling a new era for UCLA Football, Martin Jarmond, UCLAโs Alice and Nahum Lainer Family Director of Athletics, announced the hiring of James Madisonโs Bob Chesney as the next head coach of the Bruins on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025. Chesney becomes the 20th head coach in UCLA Football history and the first sitting head coach hired by UCLA since Pepper Rodgers in 1971.
ย
โBob Chesney has built programs into consistent winners at every stop in his career, and heโs ready to do it at UCLA,โ said Jarmond. โFrom 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. Heโs a leader, a consensus builder and a developer of young men, and Iโm thrilled to welcome him and his family to Westwood.โ
ย
โI am pleased to welcome Coach Bob Chesney to UCLA to lead and develop our football program both on the field and in the classroom,โ said UCLA Chancellor Julio Frenk. "Coach Chesney has a proven track record of building champions and winning programs, and his philosophy of developing student-athletes in all aspects of their growth aligns closely with our Bruin values. I commend Martin Jarmond for leading this search committee process and am thankful to the members of the committee for identifying someone who is an excellent fit for the Bruins. We all look forward to beginning this bold, new chapter for UCLA Football.โ
ย
Chesney brings to UCLA more than 25 years of collegiate coaching experience, including 16 seasons as a head coach. He has won eight conference championships and holds a career coaching record of 132-51 (.721). He has produced 10 All-Americans (1 FBS, 9 FCS) and three Academic All-Americans.
ย
Most recently, Chesney spent two seasons as head coach at James Madison (2024-25), guiding the Dukes to a 21-5 record. His 2025 team recorded just the 10th unbeaten conference record in Sun Belt history, going 8-0, and captured the programโs first-ever Sun Belt Conference Football Championship on Dec. 5 to improve its record to 12-1. The Dukes are currently in the College Football Playoff (CFP) ranking for the first time in school history, debuting at No. 25, and have achieved their highest AP ranking in program history at No. 19. Chesney was awarded the 2025 Sun Belt Coach of the Year and named one of 24 semifinalists for the 2025 George Munger College Coach of the Year Award, presented annually by the Maxwell Football Club.
ย
In his first season leading James Madison in 2024, Chesney led the Dukes to a 9-4 overall record and to its first bowl championship after a victory in the 2024 Boca Raton Bowl. He made history by becoming the programโs first head coach to win his first four games in his first season and was named the 2024 Virginia Sports Information Directors University Division Coach of the Year. Chesneyโs 2024 Dukes were ranked 21st nationally in scoring defense and 26th nationally in scoring offense.
ย
โIโd like to thank Martin Jarmond, Chancellor Julio Frenk and the search committee for this incredible opportunity to lead the UCLA Football program,โ said Chesney. โThrough our many conversations, it became abundantly clear to me that UCLA is willing to do what it takes to build a championship-level program. 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 UCLAโs administration, alumni and fanbase. Their pride, their energy and their willingness to support and invest in this programโs rise create powerful momentum for whatโs ahead. Leadership is ready. The alumni are ready. The fanbase is ready. And I am ready. I look forward to working together as we bring this program to the standard of excellence it deserves.โ
ย
Prior to James Madison, Chesney led Holy Cross to unprecedented success in his six seasons as head coach (2018-23), winning a program-record five consecutive Patriot League Championships and posting an overall record of 44-21. He is a three-time Patriot League Coach of the Year (2019, 2021, 2022) and was twice named the New England Football Writers Coach of the Year (2021, 2022).
ย
Holy Crossโs record of 29-8 from 2021-23 was the programโs best three-year stretch in 30 years, with wins against FBS opponents in back-to-back seasons (2021, 2022). The 2022 Crusaders went undefeated in the regular season and received a FCS quarterfinal berth, finishing No. 6 in the AFCA Coaches Poll. He was named the AFCA FCS Region 1 Coach of the Year following that historic season.
ย
From 2013-17, Chesney led Division II Assumption College to a record of 44-16, including five-straight winning seasons and NCAA Division II playoff appearances in each of his final three years. He earned Northeast-10 Conference Coach of the Year honors twice at Assumption.
ย
Chesney began his head coaching career in 2012 at Division III Salve Regina, rebuilding a program that had gone through eight-straight losing seasons. Over three winning seasons in 2010-12, his teams posted a 23-9 record and reached the New England Football Conference championship game in his final year.
ย
As an assistant, Chesneyโs coaching stops included Johns Hopkins (2005-09), Kingโs College
(2003-04), Delaware Valley College (2002) and Norwich University (2000-01).
ย
Chesney grew up in Kulpmont, Pa., and earned his degree in 2000 from Dickinson College, where he was a four-year letterwinner as a defensive back. A two-time second-team All-Centennial Conference selection, Chesney received the teamโs Vincent Correal MVP Award in 1997.
ย
Chesney and his wife, Andrea, have two daughters, Lyla and Hudson, and one son, Bo.
Bob Chesneyโs Coaching Experience
2000, 2001 โ Graduate Assistant, Norwich (NCAA DIII)
2002 โ Defensive Coordinator, Delaware Valley (NCAA DIII)
2003, 2004 โ Special Teams Coordinator, Kingโs College (NCAA DIII)
2005, 2006 โ Special Teams Coordinator/Defensive Backs, John Hopkins (NCAA DIII)
2007, 2008 โ Defensive Coordinator/Special Teams Coordinator/Defensive Backs, John Hopkins (NCAA DIII)
2009 โ Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Backs, John Hopkins (NCAA DIII)
2010-12 โ Head Coach, Salve Regina (NCAA DIII)
2013-17 โ Head Coach, Assumption (NCAA DII)
2018-23 โ Head Coach, Holy Cross (FCS)
2024, 2025 โ Head Coach, James Madison
2026 โ Head Coach, UCLA
Bob Chesney's Year-by-Year Head Coaching Recordย
| Year | School | Overall | Conf. | Conf. Finish | Postseason | Final Ranking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Salve Regina (DIII) | 6-4 | 5-3 | 3rd, NEFC Boyd Division | -- | -- |
| 2011 | Salve Regina (DIII) | 8-3 | 6-2 | 3rd, NEFC Boyd Division | ECAC North-West Bowl Champions | -- |
| 2012 | Salve Regina (DIII) | 9-2 | 7-1% | 1st, NEFC Boyd Division | -- | 24 |
| 2013 | Assumption (DII) | 6-5 | 6-3 | 4th, Northeast-10 | -- | -- |
| 2014 | Assumption (DII) | 7-4 | 6-3 | T-3rd, Northeast-10 | -- | -- |
| 2015 | Assumption (DII) | 11-2 | 8-1^ | 1st, Northeast-10 | NCAA DII Second Round | 17 |
| 2016 | Assumption (DII) | 9-3 | 8-1% | 2nd, Northeast-10 | NCAA DII First Round | 25 |
| 2017 | Assumption (DII) | 11-2 | 8-1 | 1st, Northeast-10 | NCAA DII Quarterfinals | 9 |
| 2018 | Holy Cross (FCS) | 5-6 | 4-2 | T-2nd, Patriot League | -- | -- |
| 2019 | Holy Cross (FCS) | 7-6 | 5-1* | 1st, Patriot League | NCAA FCS First Round | -- |
| 2020 | Holy Cross (FCS) | 3-1 | 2-0* | 1st, Patriot League | NCAA FCS First Round | 25 |
| 2021 | Holy Cross (FCS) | 10-3 | 6-0* | 1st, Patriot League | NCAA FCS First Round | 24 |
| 2022 | Holy Cross (FCS) | 12-1 | 6-0* | 1st, Patriot League | NCAA FCS Quarterfinals | 6 |
| 2023 | Holy Cross (FCS) | 7-4 | 5-1* | T-1st, Patriot League | -- | 25 |
| 2024 | James Madison | 9-4 | 4-4 | T-3rd, Sun Belt East Division | Boca Raton Bowl Champions | -- |
| 2025 | James Madison | 12-1 | 8-0^ | 1st, Sun Belt East Division | College Football Playoff First Round | TBD |
| Totals | 16 Seasons | 132-51 (.721) | 94-23 (.803) |
School NCAA Division is FBS unless otherwise noted
* indicates regular season conference championship
^ indicates conference championship game victory
% indicates conference championship game appearance
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