Just two years after James Madison hired Bob Chesney following previous head coach Curt Cignetti going to Indiana, JMU is losing another head coach to a Power Four school.
Chesney is reportedly being hired to be UCLA’s next head coach. This is days before JMU is set to play in its first Sun Belt Championship.
Here’s more about the situation:
Bob Chesney To UCLA
Chesney was the heavy favorite to go to UCLA for weeks.
In fact, a couple weeks ago, CBS commentator Rick Neuheisel said, “I’m hearing Bob Chesney from James Madison at UCLA. He’s gotta make a decision.”
That was also amidst Chesney reportedly being considered for the Penn State head coaching vacancy. That would have made plenty of sense for Chesney, who’s from Kulpmont, Pennsylvania, and was an all-conference defensive back at Dickinson College, where he graduated in 2000.
Chesney doesn’t have any experience at a West Coast school, so the UCLA move is a little surprising on paper. But he’s proven he can be a successful FBS coach during his time with the Dukes.
Bob Chesney’s Contract
Chesney is expected to sign a five-year contract, per On3, but the financial details have not yet been widely publicized.
Chesney received $833,495 in total pay this year, according to USA Today.
What Is JMU Head Coach Bob Chesney’s Record?
Bob Chesney is 20-5 in the FBS as a head coach. That’s all from the last two years at JMU.
Chesney is 132-51 as a college head coach regardless of division.
JMU Head Coach Bob Chesney’s Background
Chesney had been considered for multiple other FBS openings, including Syracuse, before going to JMU – and now UCLA.
Chesney was previously the head coach at Holy Cross from 2018-23. The Crusaders didn’t endure a losing season since his first year there.
In fact, Holy Cross was in the FCS playoffs every year since 2019 before his last season. The Crusaders reached the second round of the playoffs in 2021 and got to the quarterfinals in 2022, finishing with a 12-1 overall record. Holy Cross was 7-4 in 2023.
Chesney was the Patriot League Coach of the Year three times, leading the program to five conference championships.
Before Holy Cross, he was a head coach at the Division II level at Assumption College and at the Division III level at Salve Regina University.
How Old Is JMU Head Coach Bob Chesney?
Bob Chesney is 48 years old.
Who Was The Previous UCLA Head Coach?
Deshaun Foster was the head coach at UCLA before this. He went 5-10 overall there, with a 5-7 record in 2024 and an 0-3 record this year before he was fired.
