Keeping the winning formula, new UCLA football coach Bob Chesney takes his two best assistants with him across the country.
Chesney hires offensive coordinator Dean Kennedy and defensive coordinator Colin Hitschler, who both served in the same positions under Chesney at James Madison, in a sign of continuity after the Dukes made their first College Football Playoff appearance.
The hiring of both coordinators was confirmed by a person familiar with the situation, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the moves had not been announced.
Kennedy worked with Chesney for four straight seasons, joining his staff at Holy Cross as defensive backs coach before the 2022 season and being promoted to offensive coordinator the following season. Kennedy then accompanied Chesney to James Madison ahead of the 2024 season.
Hitschler's ties to Chesney go back to the Division III level. Hitschler was Chesney's defensive line coach and special teams coordinator at Salva Regina in 2011 before the duo reunited at James Madison before this season.
Both Kennedy and Chesney led units that were among the best in the country, with James Madison ranking 11th in points allowed (37.1 per game) and 15th in points given up (18.4).
James Madison had 509 yards of offense. during a 51–34 playoff loss to Oregon The Ducks gave up their most points and yards all season on Saturday. Kennedy is known for developing creative offenses that spread the field, scattering fleas and playing on the Statue of Liberty to help the Dukes score 70 points against North Carolina in 2024, while setting the record for most points given up by the Tar Heels.
Both coordinators have what their boss does not have—experience coaching at the “fourth estate” level. Kennedy was a graduate assistant at Mississippi State and Florida State before being promoted to offensive quality control coach and then assistant defensive backs coach with the Gators.
Hitschler was the co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach at Wisconsin in 2023 before taking the co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach job at Alabama in 2024. Hitschler also has NFL experience as a training camp assistant with the Philadelphia Eagles and a personnel assistant with the Kansas City Chiefs.
Kennedy's connection to Chesney dates back to a flurry of job search letters that Kennedy sent to college football coaches around the country while in Florida. Chesney not only responded, but also donated to two charities associated with the Kennedy family after doing some research on the persistent aide. A year later, Chesney hired Kennedy when a vacancy opened up on his staff at Holy Cross.
Chesney is also expected to hire several more James Madison assistants to fill similar roles at UCLA after Florida State's Darrick Iray is named general manager.
Iray, who recently completed his fourth season as the Seminoles' general manager, also has strong ties to the West Coast. Irey rose to the position of director of player personnel at Oregon State after working with the Beavers in various positions and also was assistant director of football operations at Fresno State, his alma mater.
