UCLA coach Bob Chesney hit the ground running after he was hired to replace DeShaun Foster, who was fired early in the season after an 0-3 start. Chesney, who led the James Madison Dukes to the College Football Playoff last season, was one of the most highly sought-after coaches in the country during the coaching carousel that gripped the sport.
Chesney’s first order of business after being hired was meeting with talented quarterback Nico Iamaleava and convincing him to stay at the program after joining from the Tennessee Volunteers.
Nico Iamaleava Reveals Strong Relationship With Bob Chesney
While speaking to reporters on Saturday, Iamaleava revealed the energy that Chesney and his staff have infused into the team during spring practice and his close relationship with the Bruins coach.
“A lot of energy, we’re going out there and having fun,” Iamaleava said. “They bring the juice to practice. They make you wanna be here and make you wanna compete. It’s been a fun spring ball. Me and Coach Ches have a great relationship. He tries to give me any nuggets on the offensive side of the ball, but normally, he’s on the defensive side.
“So, we’re having fun competing against each other. The first time after I met Coach Chesney, I was pretty sold on him and staying here. I didn’t wanna leave, so I met Coach Chesney and had a conversation, it was a no-brainer.”
Last season, Iamaleava, who joined UCLA after a controversial exit from Tennessee via the transfer portal, started 11 games and was often the only bright spot in a dark season for the faltering Bruins.
He earned a PFSN College QB Impact score of 78.5, after tallying 1,928 passing yards on 64.4% completion, resulting in 13 touchdowns and 7 interceptions, while adding 505 rushing yards and 4 scores.
Chesney has one of the biggest rebuilding jobs in college football after the Bruins finished last season with a woeful 3-9 record (3-6 Big Ten). The former James Madison coach responded by bringing in 55 players via the transfer portal to rejuvenate the roster, with 7 of them joining from the Dukes.
In two seasons at the helm of James Madison, Chesney led the Dukes to an impressive 21-6 record, including winning the Sun Belt championship last season en route to a College Football Playoff berth before signing a five-year, $33.75 million contract with the Bruins.
Despite the early optimism from his reign so far, Chesney will have his work cut out for him as the Bruins will be in a dogfight next season, with a challenging schedule, while playing in one of the toughest conferences in the country.
