Report: UCLA to hire James Madison's Chesney as head coach

UCLA will name James Madison's Bob Chesney as the football program's next head coach, sources told ESPN's Pete Thamel.

The 48-year-old will reportedly sign a five-year contract with the Bruins following the Dukes' Sun Belt championship game against Troy on Friday.

UCLA granted Chesney permission to coach James Madison in the College Football Playoff if the school qualifies for the 12-team field, according to Thamel. Chesney informed the team Monday that he was accepting the position with the Bruins.

Chesney assembled an impressive 20-5 record over the past two seasons with James Madison after Curt Cignetti left to become the coach at Indiana. The Pennsylvania native has worked his way up the coaching ladder after stints at Holy Cross and Assumption College on his way to a 129-51 mark as a college coach.

The Bruins fired DeShaun Foster on Sept. 14 following an 0-3 start to his second season on the sideline. Interim coach Tim Skipper led UCLA to three straight wins after Foster's dismissal, including an upset victory over Penn State. However, the program ended its 2025 campaign with a 3-9 record and lost five games in a row to finish the year.