Bob Chesney shares how he will coach James Madison in CFP, start UCLA job

Bob Chesney is stepping into one of the more unusual juggling acts in recent college football history. He’s preparing James Madison for a College Football Playoff game, while simultaneously launching his tenure as UCLA’s new head coach. 

Speaking at his introductory press conference in Los Angeles, Chesney outlined how he plans to balance both responsibilities without shortchanging either program: “I feel very good about it,” Chesney said. “I think right now, in this day and age, the idea of the timing of when the portal opens, but understanding a lot of things will be done long before that portal even opens is important for us to do well. 

“We have to get that staff in place. I think we have a robust recruiting staff right now. Those guys have to continue to work on it. And I have to make sure that I’m available in the moments when the work is done at JMU, as we continue to fight for this national championship.”

As you can tell, Chesney emphasized the importance of structure and communication. Still, he noted he’s confident in his ability to manage both the Bruins’ foundational work and JMU’s preparation for their historic postseason run.

It’s an exciting time, as the Dukes are gearing up for a CFP showdown against Oregon at Autzen Stadium. It’s a matchup Chesney previously said will showcase JMU’s identity and competitive edge.

“I think you’re going to see a confident bunch. I think you’re going to see an inspired bunch. And I think you’re going to see us continue to attack every single opportunity that we have,” he said earlier this week, via SI.com. “Confident, inspired attack – that will be our mantra as we go through this.”

Chesney, Dukes ready to fight one last time together for in CFP

Continuing, Chesney praised the way his JMU players have handled the season’s pressure and expectations. He credited their discipline and preparation: “The preparation that these guys deal with every single week, the ability to block out the noise and to just focus on the process and the task at hand are the things that I watch them do at an elite level,” he added.

As for how he’ll manage the logistics over the next two weeks? Chesney explained that the plan is already in motion.

“We’ll have everything broken down. And we’ll have our meetings in the evening, and then we’re practicing Thursday, Friday, and then turning around the game week on Sunday,” he explained. “So excited to do all of those things in the immediate future.”

Of course, balancing two high-profile jobs at once is a monumental challenge. Chesney made it clear he is committed to finishing what he started with the Dukes, and giving UCLA a strong start, without compromising either standard. We’ll see if he can pull it off.