Just after 6 a.m. in Westwood, Bob Chesney is already energized, heading to the campus tennis stadium before the team's day begins. Thirteen months after UCLA started last season 0-3 and fired De Shaun Foster as head coach, the Bruins are 4-0 and ranked No. 21 in the nation under Chesney. The program is nearly unrecognizable from its previous iteration.
Chesney's morning team meeting, held at 7:15 a.m., sets the tone for the week. Players take notes while Chesney flips through slides of broad mantras and specific game-plan tasks. Position coaches follow with information and motivation, often delivered in expletive-laden language. Chesney pushes the message that players must commit fully to the standard they set, saying the team must make that standard unbreakable. His record of 136-52 overall and eight conference titles across five programs reflects that approach.
Longtime assistant Drew Canan, who has worked with Chesney since their 2014 staff at Assumption University, says there is no better person to change a culture. Canan recalls a spring practice where the energy and effort were impressive, and players seemed to embrace Chesney's vision. He compared the change to Chesney's earlier work at Holy Cross and James Madison.
The next challenge is Oregon, the toughest opponent UCLA has faced this season. Running backs coach A.J. Steward told his group to expect success, and the mood in the building reflects quiet confidence. With eight weeks left in the regular season, the Bruins are focused on maintaining their pace.
Source: ESPN General · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing