Greg McElroy suggests a Big Ten team adopt a 'Moneyball' strategy for its coaching search.

Jeff Hauser

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Greg McElroy calls on Big Ten team to us 'Moneyball' approach in coaching search image

TL;DR

  • Greg McElroy suggests UCLA should hire Bob Chesney, not a big name, for their rebuild.
  • Chesney excels at "doing more with less," a skill UCLA needs for roster efficiency.
  • McElroy calls hiring Chesney "obvious" due to his talent evaluation and culture consistency.
  • Chesney's methodical approach prioritizes scouting leverage over raw spending power.

Greg McElroy thinks UCLA shouldn't focus on hiring a big-name coach for a rebuild. Instead, they should concentrate on getting the most out of their current situation. 

During the most recent installment of the Always College Football podcast, McElroy identified James Madison's head coach, Bob Chesney, as the perfect candidate for The Bruins' head coaching opening, commending his proficiency in “do more with less.”

After a disappointing tenure, UCLA dismissed DeShaun Foster three games into his second year, appointing Tim Skipper as interim coach. The program's journey has been tumultuous, and the subsequent coaching selection must be a success. 

Skipper provided an early surprise, notably defeating the then-seventh-ranked Penn State on October 4th, yet the Bruins declined to a 3-8 record during his tenure and are still poised for another coaching change.

Chesney brings a track record of organizational structure and roster efficiency UCLA needs bad. Especially with future home games moving to SoFi Stadium next year. 

McElroy labeled the potential hire as an“obvious” move, citing Chesney’s methodical talent evaluation and culture consistency. He compared the approach to a “Moneyball” model by prioritizing scouting leverage and a collective buy-in over raw spending power.

Chesney commenced his coaching tenure at Division III Salve Regina in 2010, progressing from Division II Assumption to FCS Holy Cross prior to accepting the James Madison position in 2024. He succeeded Curt Cignetti, who departed for Indiana, and has led the Dukes to a 19-5 record across the last two seasons. James Madison is still in contention for a Group-of-5 CFP spot as rivalry week approaches.

UCLA aims for a lasting advantage in a competitive Big Ten conference. They desire a star player who can instantly bolster the team's roster. According to McElroy, Chesney best fulfills the primary requirement of achieving maximum victories within financial constraints.

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Editorial Team