UCLA pulled the plug on the DeShaun Foster era after an 0-3 start to his second season leading his alma mater in mid-September earlier this year.
Foster's contract called for a $5 million buyout.
Tim Skipper stepped in and admirably led the Bruins for the remainder of the season, and after Skipper made a pair of coordinator changes, Jerry Neuheisel enjoyed a few breakout games in the limelight as the team's new offensive coordinator.
To fill the head coaching opening, UCLA took a page out of fellow Big Ten member Indiana's book in hiring away the head coach at James Madison - Bob Chesney.
Chesney is a rarity in that he has climbed the ranks by winning at ever level climbing from D-III at Salve Regina, to D-II at Assumption, FCS at Holy Cross and the past two seasons at James Madison, who he just led to the College Football Playoff.
He brings that success on the eastern side, where he has gone 132-52 as a head coach, to the west coast of the United States to UCLA.
Much of his James Madison staff is coming along with him, and here's how the rest of his staff is shaking out
OFFENSE
ROLE | COACH | PREVIOUS STOP |
| OC | Dean Kennedy | James Madison OC |
| RBs | AJ Steward | UCLA RBs |
| OL | Chris Smith | JMU OL |
| STC / TEs | Drew Canan | JMU STC |
DEFENSE
ROLE | COACH | PREVIOUS STOP |
| DC | Colin Hitschler | James Madison DC |
| Safeties | Gabe Lynn | UCLA Safeties |
| LBs | Vic So'oto | Cal Co-DC |
SPECIAL TEAMS
| SPECIAL TEAMS COORDINATOR | Drew Canan | JMU STC |
SUPPORT STAFF
ROLE | PERSON (PREVIOUS ROLE) |
| HEAD S&C | |
| GENERAL MANAGER | Derrick Yray (Florida State GM of personnel) |
| Executive Director of player personnel | Nathan Applebaum (JMU director of player personnel) |
2024 STAFF
| HEAD COACH | DeShaun Foster |
| OFFENSIVECOORDINATOR / QBs | Tino Sunseri |
| DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR | Ikaika Malloe |
| RUNNING BACKS | AJ Steward |
| PASSING GAME COORDINATOR / WIDE RECEIVERS | Burl Toler |
| OFFENSIVE LINE | Andy Kwon |
| TIGHT ENDS | Jerry Neuheisel |
| DEFENSIVE LINE | Jethro Franklin |
| SAFETIES | Gabe Lynn |
| ASSOCIATE HEAD COACH / LINEBACKERS | Scott White |
| PASSING GAME COORDINATOR / SECONDARY | Demetrice Martin |
HEAD S&C | Corey Miller |