Bob Chesney’s initial UCLA football staff is going to have a familiar feel to anyone who follows James Madison.
After hiring offensive coordinator Dean Kennedy and defensive coordinator Colin Hitschler, the new Bruins coach is also bringing along five other assistants who helped the Dukes reach the College Football Playoff: offensive line coach and run game coordinator Chris Smith, safeties coach Eddie Whitley Jr., defensive backs coach Anthony DiMichele, defensive line coach Sam Daniels and special teams coordinator and tight ends coach Drew Canan. While most of the assistants will retain their titles, DiMichele will now coach safeties and Daniels defensive ends with the Bruins.