UCLA's Chesney Puts Players Through Intense Practice Simulations

Coach Bob Chesney uses water sprays, chaos, and stress tests to prepare Bruins for game-day pressure.

Apr. 7, 2026 at 11:25pm

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A fractured, multi-perspective painting depicting a UCLA football practice scene, with players and coaches reduced to abstract geometric shapes and angles, capturing the intensity and chaos of Chesney's training methods.Chesney's intense practice philosophy pushes UCLA players to their limits, deconstructing the game into a cubist study of competition and pressure.Los Angeles Today

UCLA football coach Bob Chesney has implemented an intense practice philosophy that aims to replicate game-day conditions as closely as possible. This includes simulated TV timeouts where coaches share information with players, as well as special teams drills that subject players to water sprays and chaotic conditions to test their ability to perform under pressure.

Why it matters

Chesney's approach is designed to build mental toughness and prepare the Bruins for the high-pressure environment of college football. By subjecting players to stress tests and simulated game scenarios, he hopes to identify weaknesses and ensure the team is ready to compete at the highest level.

The details

During UCLA practices, Chesney has the coaching staff disseminate information to players during simulated TV timeouts, turning those breaks into teaching moments. The team also undergoes special teams drills where players like receiver Mikey Mathews are rushed, screamed at, and sprayed with water to test their ability to focus and execute under duress. Chesney believes this approach is crucial, as 'Saturdays should feel as much like a Tuesday and Wednesday as humanly possible.'

  • UCLA began implementing Chesney's intense practice philosophy during spring workouts in 2026.

The players

Bob Chesney

The head coach of the UCLA football team, known for his innovative practice methods aimed at preparing players for game-day pressure.

Dean Kennedy

The offensive coordinator for the UCLA football team, who has worked with Chesney to develop a fluid approach to installing plays and allowing players more time to process details.

Mikey Mathews

A UCLA receiver who is subjected to intense pressure during special teams drills, including being rushed, screamed at, and sprayed with water to test his ability to focus and execute under duress.

Ryan McCulloch

A linebacker who transferred to UCLA from Cal and is expected to see some practice time near the end of the spring practice period after missing most of the 2025 season due to injury.

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What they’re saying

“Instead of just taking a break ... the coaches get together and then they break up and disseminate that information to the players, and then they come back together again and then we go out and play.”

— Bob Chesney, Head Coach, UCLA Football

“It's fluid.”

— Dean Kennedy, Offensive Coordinator, UCLA Football

“There's a million football plays, but if you just install stuff and you don't actually get a rep of it, what's the point, right? You can't assess it on film. You can't teach it to them the proper way because realistically, just like us, there's only so much they can learn, right?”

— Dean Kennedy, Offensive Coordinator, UCLA Football

“Every single thing is going to be graded and judged and held to a high standard, and accountability will follow it. That has got to be it, we have to be able to compete. We play a game where you keep score and everybody's in a one-on-one matchup and [compete] as hard as possible for 80, 90, however many plays it might be in a game.”

— Bob Chesney, Head Coach, UCLA Football

“I'd rather find out right now in practice three and just continue to elevate it week in and week out. I think that's probably the focal point of this entire program is that you pay attention to no virtue that has not been tested in fire, and I want to make sure that we test everything that we can out here in fire.”

— Bob Chesney, Head Coach, UCLA Football

What’s next

Linebacker Ryan McCulloch is expected to see some practice time near the 'very end' of the spring practice period as he continues to recover from an injury that sidelined him for most of the 2025 season.

The takeaway

Chesney's intense practice philosophy, which includes simulated game conditions, water sprays, and high-pressure drills, is designed to build mental toughness and ensure the Bruins are prepared to perform at their best on game days. This approach reflects Chesney's belief that Saturdays should feel as much like Tuesdays and Wednesdays as possible, with a relentless focus on competition and accountability.