The coaching landscape in college football continues to shift as Bob Chesney prepares to lead James Madison University in the Sun Belt Conference championship game against Troy this Friday. Following a successful season, Chesney has accepted the head coaching position at UCLA, but both the JMU and UCLA administrations have agreed to allow him to coach in the championship and potentially in the College Football Playoff should the Dukes qualify.
On Monday, Chesney held a virtual meeting with regional media, addressing the upcoming championship game before transitioning to a local press session that lasted approximately 23 minutes. Just as he wrapped up, news broke on social media that he would be heading to UCLA, as reported by On3″s Pete Nakos and ESPN”s Pete Thamel. Despite the speculation surrounding his future, Chesney emphasized to his players the importance of focusing on the present.
Chesney stated, “I told the players this year”s team is this year”s team. Just like anyone else, our seniors are going to graduate. Some guys will enter the transfer portal, and some coaches will stay while others leave. That”s just the nature of the beast that”s been created. This has nothing to do with this year”s team.” His comments reflect a commitment to maintaining focus on the championship game, despite the external distractions.
During his discussions with local reporters, he likened the season to an hourglass, noting that “eventually that final little grain of sand falls out, and that”s the completion of this year”s team. It”s important to know you gave it everything you had along the way.” Senior safety Jacob Thomas echoed this sentiment, stating, “The noise is the noise, and you can”t really worry about it. We”re focused on doing our job this Friday, and whatever happens after that happens after that.” This level of transparency has resonated with the players, reminiscent of past instances where coaches have left their teams amid ongoing seasons.
Chesney”s decision to move to UCLA comes at a time when he has led JMU to a remarkable record of 20-5 over two seasons. However, the competitive nature of coaching in college football means that institutions like JMU struggle to match the financial offers from Power Five programs. Despite JMU”s efforts to retain Chesney by offering to make him the highest-paid coach in the Sun Belt, the financial lure of a Power Five school is often irresistible.
As the coaching carousel spins, the situation is complicated further by multiple high-profile coaching vacancies, including those at Virginia Tech, Penn State, and others. The current hiring practices have drawn criticism, as they often overshadow the players and their performance during critical championship events. Yet, as Chesney aptly noted, this is “the beast” that has emerged in college football.
Chesney now faces the challenge of revitalizing a struggling program at UCLA, which has seen limited success over the past two decades. With attendance issues at the Rose Bowl and discussions about relocating games to the more modern SoFi Stadium, the road ahead will not be easy for the new head coach. Nonetheless, the excitement surrounding his appointment reflects the potential for a fresh start in a program hungry for success.
