A male bear sporting a T-shirt featuring a cartoon bear with the phrase “Coming out of hibernation” roams around a soccer practice field.
Bob Chesney, who limps slightly with a white bandage around his right knee, still manages to show a lively enthusiasm despite his difficulties.
He’s getting ready for a big moment as his son is about to step into his coaching role at UCLA.
As he walked, clapping, the older Chesney—let’s refer to him as Senior—offered a few encouraging words to a player on the stretching line and then threw a fist bump at another.
This is now his new role: uplifting everyone as a volunteer defensive line coach.
Senior is known for his playful motivational antics, like a favorite saying he has, “Monday Morning Madness,” and he once brought an opponent’s helmet to a meeting to inspire his players during one of his son’s previous tenures.
“He’s really focused on coaching their minds and hearts,” shared the younger Bob Chesney with California Post. “And he’s really good at it.”
Occasionally, he tosses packs of Mentos or gummy bears to players, dubbing them “power pills.” He serves as a comforting voice for any players who might be having a rough day, while also acting as a beacon of inspiration for those around him.
“Some days are tough, you know, you can feel a bit sluggish or tired,” defensive lineman Darold DeGoeh mentioned. “But seniors always bring the energy.”
Before his son’s second-to-last game at James Madison, the senior encouraged edge rusher Sahir West to show what made him the Sun Belt Conference Freshman of the Year. West went on to dominate, racking up 5 1/2 tackles, 3 sacks, and a forced fumble against Troy.
“They just couldn’t stop him,” Senior said.
Childhood of Service
Relentlessness is a character trait the eldest Chesney ingrained in his son long before he could throw a football.
Back in Kulpmont, Pennsylvania, young Bobby would rise before dawn to make his bed and finish his homework before doing chores, even during summer. In winter, he’d shovel snow for elderly neighbors.
“I couldn’t just pass it on,” said the younger Chesney. “We have to add value.”
This kind of mindset is typical in a community known for hard work and coal mines. Senior had a cigar in one side of his mouth and a pack of cigarettes in the other.
“He chews and drinks and eats a lot. And at one point, he was the town mayor. He was a tough, little Italian guy. Kids either loved him or left the team,” the older Chesney recalled.
He didn’t quit, eventually coaching his son at Our Lady of Lourdes High School. Looking back, he acknowledges struggling to balance his old coach’s toughness with a more caring approach.
“I like to think of myself as mildly caring,” Senior reflected. “But discipline was crucial because we had limited talent; we had to be more disciplined and in shape to win.”
During his time playing for his dad’s team, Bob rarely left the field. He played quarterback, defensive back, and even took on kickoffs and punts. His dad sometimes had him play wide receiver while installing a tight end as quarterback.
“Thank goodness no one got hurt because, well, they just kept running away,” Senior quipped.
A Journey Shared by Chesney
Eventually, when his son started his coaching career, Senior had a question for him.
“What does Salve Regina mean?” he asked, clueless about the small private Catholic school in Rhode Island that competes in NCAA Division III football. “What’s that?”
The family quickly found a love for the beautiful coastal town, and Bob climbed the college football ranks, moving up to Assumption, followed by time at Holy Cross and James Madison before landing at UCLA this past December.
Senior has been his son’s steadfast supporter, attending rallies and sideline events during games. He and his wife Claudia drove 3,262 miles to Los Angeles, following Route 66 to savor historic landmarks and family visits.
Now, they’ve settled into a hillside apartment close to campus.
“If I can find a soccer facility every day and then head home, that’s all I care about,” said Senior, who’s about to turn 77 in November.
He likens his son to an architect, noting that at each stage in his career, Bob has laid the groundwork, constructed the structure, put on a roof, and furnished the program. So, what’s next for UCLA?
“Maybe landscaping work, I suppose,” Senior said, adding with a laugh, “Maybe plant some fruit trees or something.”
Senior believes his son’s achievements are tied to staying true to his foundational principles.
“Everything he does has a purpose,” he noted. “It’s not just about moving to a bigger program; it’s about doing the basics right—blocking, tackling, catching. Being able to articulate that comfortably is key, as kids can see when you’re genuine.”
This winning formula seems to involve both Bob Chesneys—the coach and his spirited assistant—each essential to the other.
“It’s just like older shepherds guiding the flock while the younger ones dash around rounding them up,” Senior remarked.
