UCLA is entering a new era under head coach Bob Chesney this season.

Chesney is in his first season as UCLA’s head coach after leading James Madison to its first ever College Football Playoff appearance last season. The Bruins’ concluded their spring practices with their annual Spring Game at the Rose Bowl on Saturday, and Chesney is earning praise for what he has done with UCLA so far.

Former USC wide receiver Travon Patterson attended two of UCLA’s spring practices and said Chesney reminds him of former USC head coach Pete Carroll.

“I talked to Travon Patterson yesterday on my drive home from a tournament I was at in San Diego,” Biggins said. “He played at USC under Pete Carroll. He’s been to two UCLA practices and he said ‘Dude, this guy reminds me of Pete Carroll. The way that UCLA practices are set up with the energy, and the vibe, and the radio, the music pumping.’ He goes ‘It’s like our old USC practices.’”

Carroll led the Trojans to a 97-19 overall record, two national championships and seven consecutive Pac-10 championships from 2001-09. He held a 34-game winning streak between 2003-05 and is considered one of the best coaches in USC history.

Carroll ultimately left USC to become the head coach of the Seattle Seahawks in 2010. With the Seahawks, he won five NFC West titles, made two Super Bowl appearances and won Super Bowl XLVIII.

After one season as the head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders in 2025, the franchise fired Carroll in January. Although his stint with the Raiders did not last long, his success with USC and the Seahawks is undeniable.

Chesney’s Young Staff is Helping With Recruiting Process

Chesney brought multiple former James Madison staff members with him to Westwood, like offensive coordinator Dean Kennedy and defensive coordinator Colin Hitschler.

Chesney and his young coaching staff have helped UCLA dominate in the recruiting process this offseason. The Bruins boast the No. 4 Class of 2027 in the nation and the No. 2 class in the Big Ten.

“I think Chesney also hired a really good, young staff that gets after it from a recruiting standpoint,” Biggins said. “They have to be doing a good job with NIL.”

Since taking on the role as head coach in December, Chesney has shown he has what it takes to lead UCLA towards a national championship.

Photo Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

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