UCLA Bets Big on Bob Chesney to Lead a Football Revival

UCLA football has been searching for a spark for years, and the school believes it finally found one in Bob Chesney. The new head coach arrived in Westwood with bold promises, fresh energy, and, importantly, strong financial backing from people close to NBA superstar Steph Curry. For a program dealing with empty seats, on-field struggles, and a massive $219 million athletic deficit, Chesney’s arrival feels like a turning point.

Bob Chesney’s move from James Madison to UCLA is a giant step, but it also highlights how far the Bruins have fallen. UCLA used to be one of the biggest names in college athletics, yet the football team hasn’t hit double-digit wins since 2014. Since then, fans have watched the program slip into inconsistency, frustration, and eventually apathy. The Rose Bowl may hold 90,000 fans, but in recent years, attendance has hovered closer to 35,000–37,000. Ticket revenue has been cut nearly in half compared to a decade ago, and the school is even facing a lawsuit from Pasadena and the Rose Bowl Operating Company over reported talks of moving home games to SoFi Stadium.

At his introduction, Bob Chesney didn’t shy away from the challenge. Instead, he issued a direct call to everyone on campus. “This is not just our team. He addressed the students, professors, and administrators, saying, “The team is yours.” He promised to be visible around campus, build relationships, and make the program feel connected to the university again.

Bob Chesney’s track record should give Bruins fans something to believe in. At Holy Cross, he turned a struggling program into a five-time Patriot League champion, finishing 44–21 over six seasons. At James Madison, he went 21–5, delivered the school’s first FBS bowl win, won a Sun Belt title, and pushed the Dukes into the College Football Playoff. Everywhere he goes, success seems to follow—usually starting in year two.

UCLA is also showing real commitment this time. Former Golden State Warriors GM and current University of California regent Bob Myers—someone deeply trusted in Steph Curry’s circle—played a major role in Bob Chesney’s hiring. Myers promised the new coach that UCLA was finally ready to spend like a Big Ten contender. That includes boosting salaries for assistants and strengthening the school’s NIL operation so UCLA isn’t stuck at the bottom of the conference in spending power.

Myers said the goal is to put UCLA in the “top third, maybe top quartile” of Big Ten financial support. It’s a bold shift, especially for a school that ranked last in the conference in football spending this year. Recruiting reflects that struggle, with UCLA’s 2026 class sitting at 66th nationally and 16th in the Big Ten. Fixing that will take time, effort, and money.

Patience from the fan base is thin, but Bob Chesney has a history of turning programs around and making them winners. UCLA’s climb won’t happen overnight, but for the first time in years, the Bruins finally look like a program ready to fight again—on the field, in recruiting, and in the financial arms race of modern college football.

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