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UCLA football coach news
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
Bob Chesney debuts as UCLA football coach Sept. 5 vs Cal.
New coach era begins amid AD firing and financial woes.
Background
UCLA hired Bob Chesney from James Madison in December 2025, hoping to revive a program that struggled under previous coaches. Just days before his first game, the school fired athletic director Martin Jarmond due to a significant financial deficit, adding uncertainty to the new era.
How it unfolded
- Dec 6, 2025UCLA hires Bob Chesney as head football coach.
- Aug 31, 2026UCLA fires athletic director Martin Jarmond, citing financial issues.
- Sep 5, 2026Chesney coaches his first game against Cal in Berkeley.
Who’s saying what
- Official
- Chancellor Julio Frenk says Chesney develops student-athletes who succeed on the field, in the classroom and in life.
- Analysts
- CBS Sports notes Jarmond's hire of Chesney drew widespread praise, but the timing of the firing is interesting.
- Public
- Los Angeles Times called Chesney 'one of the most promising football coaches on the market' upon his hiring.