Bob Chesney 'Very Excited' About UCLA Future amid Speculation He Could Leave for Other CFB Jobs

With UCLA far exceeding expectations on the field, coach Bob Chesney is already having to ease the anxieties of fans who think he could leave for a bigger job.

Chesney told reporters Tuesday he's "truly" enjoying his time in L.A. and is "very excited" about the long-term direction of the program:

The Bruins appear to have hit a home run with the 49-year-old, who went 21-6 in his two seasons as the head coach at James Madison. Those across the country in Happy Valley are certainly looking longingly at what could've been .

The general state of college football is reflected by the fact Chesney even has to be asked about his UCLA future when he's just seven games into his tenure.

Lincoln Riley swapped Oklahoma for USC. Lane Kiffin bolted Ole Miss for LSU as the Rebels were primed to qualify for the College Football Playoff. Kalen DeBoer took the Alabama job less than a week after coaching Washington in the national championship.

There are a lot of factors working in UCLA's factor. It's located in one of the world's biggest media markets. There's a ton of high school talent within the state. The Rose Bowl is among the most recognizable venues in the sport. And there's the benefit of playing in the Big Ten.

The Bruins have the ingredients needed to be a consistent winner.

Still, there are other schools that have more history, better resources or a combination of the two. You probably can't take the NFL totally off the table, either, when coaching in the pros has become less stressful than the year-round grind of leading a college program.

It's too soon to think Chesney will actually leave, but he'll likely get a lucrative new extension , which on its own would illustrate how UCLA can't take anything for granted while trying to keep him in Westwood.