Reports: UCLA’s Bob Chesney close to signing contract extension

By Field Level Media Nov 13 (Field Level Media) – Multiple media outlets reported Friday that UCLA is working on a contract extension for head football coach Bob Chesney, ​who was hired less than a year ago ‌and has taken the undefeated Bruins to No. 4 in the College Football Playoff rankings. UCLA (9-0) leads the Big Ten Conference with a 6-0 mark heading into its Friday game against Illinois (6-3, 4-2) in Pasadena, Calif. ‌In ​a huge turnaround from last season’s three-win ⁠campaign, another Bruins victory ⁠would break the program mark for largest one-year improvement as well as tie the single-season record with 10 victories. Chesney, 49, agreed to a five-year, $33.75 million contract with UCLA in ​December after guiding James Madison to a 12-2 record, its first Sun Belt Conference title and first CFP appearance ⁠in 2025. UCLA has never played in ⁠the College Football Playoff. The last time the ​Bruins started 10-0 was in 1998 when they won their ​last conference championship. Chesney was 21-6 in two seasons at ‌James Madison, including a win in the 2024 Boca Raton Bowl and a loss to Oregon in the first round of the 2025 CFP. Previously the head coach at Holy Cross, Chesney ⁠helped that team qualify for the FCS playoffs four times in six seasons. The three-time Patriot League Coach of the Year compiled a ⁠44-21 record with ‌the Crusaders. Chesney served as head coach at ⁠Division III Salve Regina (2010-12) and Division II ​Assumption (2013-17) before ‌taking over at Holy Cross. UCLA eventually brought ​in Chesney ⁠after firing former Bruins star running back DeShaun Foster following an 0-3 start in 2025. The team showed progress in October under interim coach Tim Skipper before dropping the final five games on their schedule to finish with a 3-9 (3-6 Big Ten) ​record. (–Field Level Media)