New UCLA Bruins head coach Bob Chesney basically has to start from the ground up.
The last coach at UCLA, DeShaun Foster, was fired after the team started 0-3. The Bruins finished 3-9 and Chesney was brought in after a 26-1 run in two seasons at James Madison to turn things around.
Getting quarterback Nico Iamaleava back for 2026 will help. So will landing recruits like three-star wide receiver Michael Farinas from Temecula, California, who are completely bought in to what Chesney is selling.
Farinas hopped onto UCLA’s radar last week. They had offered two of his teammates at Chaparral High School and saw him while watching those two, Eli Woodard and Tycen Johnson, at a camp.
Farinas stood out to wideouts coach Collin Locket and Chesney, and he was offered two days later at a junior day event.
A commitment from the three-star came not that long afterwards. The announcement was made via social media on Monday.
