Can a Big Ten coach thrive without Power Four experience? UCLA’s Bob Chesney offers a test case., tell me about this news in (https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/09/15/ucla-coach-bob-chesney-experience/)

The article discusses how recent coaching hires across the Big Ten highlight two opposing philosophies on what it takes to succeed at the highest level of college football: hiring established Power Four head coaches versus betting on proven winners rising from the lower divisions and Group of Five ranks.Key Points from the Story:

• Two Hiring Philosophies: Programs such as Penn State, Michigan, and Michigan State prioritized extensive Power Four head-coaching pedigree. For instance, Penn State brought in Matt Campbell after his long, successful tenure at Iowa State, while Michigan hired Kyle Whittingham from Utah. Both coaches brought established systems and significant numbers of their former players through the transfer portal to ease the transition into the conference.
• Bob Chesney as the Test Case: UCLA diverged from that pattern by hiring Bob Chesney. While Chesney has won eight conference titles across his career, his trajectory was built entirely outside the traditional Power Four infrastructurerising through Division III (Salve Regina), Division II (Assumption), FCS (Holy Cross), and the Group of Five at James Madison, where he led the Dukes to a Sun Belt title and a College Football Playoff appearance. Chesney brought 12 former James Madison players with him to Los Angeles.
• The Core Debate: Skeptics question whether a head coach without prior Power Four experience can immediately navigate the Big Ten’s physical demands, national recruiting battles, and high-stakes NIL and transfer portal dynamics. However, proponents point out that previous head-coaching experience at lower levels often fosters superior culture-building and player development.
• Recent Precedents: The report notes that lack of Power Four head-coaching experience is not a barrier to Big Ten contention. Indiana’s Curt Cignetti reached elite status coming directly from the non-Power Four ranks (also via James Madison), while first-time head coaches like Dan Lanning at Oregon and Ryan Day at Ohio State have built perennial playoff contenders.

Ultimately, the piece frames Chesney’s tenure in Westwood as an experiment to see whether his systematic, developmental approach can translate into sustained success against the Big Ten’s entrenched powerhouses.