Getting ready to rebuild a bear

With Chesney officially hired to turn around Bruins, a look at the staff and transfers who may join him

- By Ben Bolch

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

Now comes the matter of who Chesney might bring with him after he’s introduced on campus Tuesday.

It's probably safe to assume that Chesney will retain at least a decent chunk of his current staff as part of a cross-country move from Harrisonburg, Va.

Eight of Chesney’s assistant coaches at James Madison have spent multiple 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 could offer the Bruins something Chesney doesn’t possess — experience at the Power Four conference level. Kennedy once worked in the Southeastern Conference, serving as a graduate assistant at Mississippi State and a graduate assistant, offensive 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 were wildly successful with the Dukes, their units ranking in the top 10 in the nation in scoring offense and defense, respectively.

UCLA's season opener against California on Sept. 5 at Memorial Stadium in Berkeley will represent Chesney’s first game as a head coach or an assistant at the Power Four level. He’s won everywhere else after rising from Division III to Division II to the Football Championship Subdivision to the Football Bowl Subdivision, compiling a 132-51 record along the way.