UCLA’s football program entered a period of uncertainty after posting a 3‑9 record in the previous season, a result that placed the Bruins near the bottom of the Big Ten and left the school with an 8‑16 record over the last two years.
A New Direction for the Bruins
In a decisive move, the university terminated head coach DeShaun Foster and announced the hiring of Bob Chesney, the former James Madison head coach whose 21‑6 record included a Sun Belt title and a College Football Playoff appearance.
Chesney arrives with a cache of talent from his previous squad, bringing running back Wayne Knight and wide receiver Landon Ellis to Westwood, while also retaining five‑star quarterback Nico Iamaleava, who opted to stay with the Bruins.
The coaching staff overhaul has been reflected in the offseason evaluations; CBS Sports assigned UCLA a B+ grade, highlighting the strength of the new staff and the upside associated with Iamaleava’s development.
If the new system clicks, the Bruins could reverse their recent slide and mount a competitive push in the Pac‑12, turning the current rebuilding phase into a genuine resurgence.