UCLA has focused its scouting efforts on James Madison coach Bob Chesney for the past several days after signing DeShon Foster out after three games and 10 losses during his 15-game tenure. The Bruins recently had several conversations with San Diego State head coach Sean Lewis, sources tell FootballScoop.
But multiple industry sources – agents, coaches, administrators – told FootballScoop this week that Chesney is the target of the Bruins’ nearly 10-week pursuit.
Sources shared that UCLA has offered terms to Chesney and his representatives; Multiple sources said the Bruins are discussing a formal offer in the “$6 to $7 million per year” range.
Chesney is making at least $833,000 at James Madison this season, with a chance to push that number above $900,000 pending various performance incentives; Additionally, while it is realistic that Chesney has been targeted consistently by UCLA for several weeks and has spoken multiple times with Penn State as a potential replacement for the fired James Franklin, sources tell FootballScoop that James Madison has also indicated a willingness to be aggressive with a new deal for Chesney if the rising coach elects to remain with Virginia’s Harrisonburg program for another campaign.
But sources also told FootballScoop that Duke officials are well aware of the situation and that it is not possible to retain Chesney beyond this season; If this is JMU’s second coaching search in two years and third in the last seven years, they are taking a proactive approach.
Chesney’s original, five-year agreement with JMU contained a staggered buyout-clause if Chesney elected to depart for another program that was decided based on the conference affiliation of his next job; According to a review of the terms, the Bruins would lose approximately $1.25 million to buy out Chesney’s contract should he depart for UCLA.
Nevertheless, UCLA has put together a package it believes offers a realistic opportunity to secure the services of Chesney, a Pennsylvania native who has become one of the Football Bowls Subdivision’s hottest commodities in recent years.
Chesney won 29 games over his final three seasons at Holy Cross, leading that school to record success, and moved to the FBS level at the helm of the JMU program with 20 wins (and the potential for more) through his first 25 games.
The Dukes completed a perfect season in Sun Belt Conference play with a dominant 59-10 victory at Coastal Carolina on Saturday; They have already clinched a spot in the SBC Championship next weekend when they face Jerrad Parker’s upstart Troy Trojans, who are eight-game winners after dispatching Southern Miss, 28-18, on the road on Saturday.
Also, James Madison is in contention for a Group of Six berth in the College Football Playoff.
Tulane is the CFP’s No. 24 team and is currently in the best position to secure a bid, but the Green Wave need to close out Saturday’s game at Charlotte — they led 14-0 in the second quarter — and then win the AAC title-game next week to complete the process.
At the time of this story, UCLA is tied 7-7 with cross-city rival USC in the second quarter. The Bruins, at 3-8, are trying to avoid the program’s second nine-loss season since 1941.
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