With Nico Iamaleava having decided to give UCLA another shot, the school’s athletic department is going full throttle on revamping its coaching staff to reverse the poor performance of the 2025 season. To do this, they’re bringing in a new offensive line coach from James Madison, Chris Smith. He has been with the Dukes for two seasons now.
Sources: UCLA is hiring Chris Smith as the school’s new offensive line coach and run game coordinator. Smith comes over from James Madison, where he worked with Bob Chesney the last two years. pic.twitter.com/woTQuCBWNh
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) December 31, 2025
The news was reported by ESPN’s Pete Thamel through X, who also informed the fans that Smith is expected to become the Bruins’ new running game coordinator. Smith also brings in a season of NFL experience, having worked as an assistant offensive line coach for the New York Giants in 2023.
Smith spent the 2023 season as an assistant offensive line coach with the New York Giants. Smith worked at Holy Cross with Chesney from 2018-22, including a year as the offensive coordinator in 2022.
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) December 31, 2025
Before that, he worked at Holy Cross between 2018 and 2022, being the school’s offensive coordinator in the last year.
Troy Aikman Trusts Bob Chesney to Return the UCLA Bruins to National Relevance
Before becoming one of the best NFL quarterbacks in history, Troy Aikman revamped his college career with a transfer from Oklahoma to UCLA, long before the inception of the transfer portal. Early in his first season as a full starter for the Sooners, he suffered a season-ending ankle injury, which forced him to rethink his entire career.
He found a solution with a transfer to UCLA in 1987, where he went on to win the Pac-12 Player of the Year Award and Davey O’Brien Award. He was also a Consensus All-American and had his jersey retired by the Bruins. Safe to say, he’s a big thing in Los Angeles.
So when he talks about the program, people listen. The Hall of Famer seems to believe that the Bruins are about to enter a bright period under the leadership of new head coach Bob Chesney.
Asked on Monday Night Football’s broadcast this week, if he expects to see the Bruins challenge for a spot in the College Football Playoff one day, he said:
“Well, I can’t tell ya. I’m hoping one day I will. Bob Chesney is going to get us back to the promised land.”
Joe Buck (Indiana alum): “Is this what it feels like? Is this what it feels like?”
Troy Aikman (UCLA alum): “Well, I can’t tell ya. I’m hoping one day I will.”
Buck: “Come on. Get back on. Your poor Bruins.”
Aikman: “Bob Chesney is gonna get us back to the promised land.” pic.twitter.com/s5yupptwtP
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) December 30, 2025
There’s some hope surrounding the program, with Chesney’s hiring having convinced Nico Iamaleava to return for another season with the school. It remains to be seen whether Chesney will be able to repeat what he achieved with the Dukes at UCLA.
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