The Chesney Era Begins: UCLA Football Building a New Foundation in 2026

UCLA enters 2026 with newfound hope following the hiring of former James Madison head coach Bob Chesney. Chesney takes over a UCLA program that aspires to be bowl eligible for the first time since Chip Kelly led the team to 8-5 in 2023. The former Dukes headman brings with him his former offensive coordinator Dean Kennedy, who helped their explosive offense punch a ticket to the College Football Playoff in 2025. 

More than anything, Chesney focused on the importance of hard work and his focus on player development at Big Ten Football Media Days presented by Discover. And the players are buying into it. 

“They come to work every single day,” Chesney said. “They have a strong desire to be really good at football. And not only to be good at football, but be good at life.” 

Chesney also emphasized the need to “have success in what you do on a day-to-day basis” and “hold yourself to an extremely high standard” to have success on the football field. 

With a fresh roster and a new era beginning in Westwood, Chesney made it clear that he is focused less on outside expectations and more on steady growth inside the program. 

“I’m not really interested in putting artificial limits on ourselves or making promises on outcomes that have to be earned,” Chesney said. “Success looks like a united, disciplined group that continues to grow every moment that they have.” 

That all starts with his leaders. 

A More Confident, More Comfortable QB 

Benefiting from the new offensive scheme will be redshirt junior quarterback Nico Iamaleava. After spending his first two seasons at Tennessee, Iamaleava shocked the college football world when he decided to hit the portal, signing with the Bruins. His first season with UCLA was up and down. Over the course of 11 games as the starter, Iamaleava threw for 1,928 yards and 13 touchdowns. 

Though it was a rocky first season in a Bruin uniform, Iamaleava feels more confident in the offensive system as 2026 approaches. 

"We’re doing everything in our power to put ourselves in positions to be prepared,” he said at Big Ten Football Media Days presented by Discover. “I feel better about this year mentally and physically... I’m confident in the work we’ve been putting in.” 

Iamaleava looks to lead an offense that struggled as a unit last year, scoring 18.2 points per game.  

"You got to look in the mirror and ask yourself, are you doing everything you can in your power to lead these guys to win?” the quarterback said. “As long as you lay it all out there, [you can] be proud of what you did out there.” 

The redshirt junior will have some help on offense with the additions of former San Jose State wide receiver and transfer commit Leland Smith, who poses as a major jump ball threat standing at 6 '4. The Bruins also added former Florida receiver Aidan Mizell, who gives UCLA a boost in speed.   

Hitschler, Martin Set the Tone for UCLA’s Defense 

Defensively, the group will be led by redshirt junior linebacker Cole Martin, who burst onto the scene in 2025 with 65 total tackles and an interception. Coaching the unit, former James Madison defensive coordinator Colin Hitschler who, like Dean Kennedy, followed Chesney to Los Angeles. Hitschler spent time under Kalen DeBoer at Alabama in 2024, where he was the co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach, helping the Crimson Tide to a 9-4 finish. 

Martin is excited to learn under Hitschler and says the defense has looked sharper after allowing 33.4 points per game last season. 

“Coach H is one of those guys that has an extreme amount of attention to detail,” Martin said. “How we play in his scheme allows us to elevate to that next level... With the intensity that he carries every single day, [he] just pushes us to be where we want to be.” 

Martin looks to step into a leadership role with the Bruins after stints at Oregon and Arizona State. 

“I've been able to lead this team in an emotional as well as a physical way,” the DB said. “Being able to have these guys and coaches trust me to lead them to where they want to be... is something that I've just fully bought into... because I know that great teams are player-led.” 

UCLA’s defense will have a different feel this season. Much like the offense, they excelled in the transfer portal. Four-star edge rusher Sahir West followed his coaches to UCLA, giving the Bruins’ pass rush help after the departure of Laiatu Latu (Indianapolis Colts). Behind West, it’s Oklahoma transfer linebacker Sammy Omosigho that will fit into the unit as a versatile piece. 

With the spring additions of West and Omosigho, Martin is confident the defense will be in an improved place from a season ago. 

The Chesney Era 

UCLA is setting a new foundation in 2026. Chesney’s message in Chicago was less about promises and more about process with a focus on habits rather than hype. And he’s happy to be doing it in L.A. 

“There’s no better place I’d rather be at this moment in time, and I strongly believe in the power of what UCLA is,” Chesney said. 

UCLA enters the fall with alignment, with leadership, and with players who appear to understand the standard their new staff is trying to set. And for a program developing traction in a new era, that may be the best first step. 

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