Nico Iamaleava is heading into 2026 with a lot to sort out, and UCLA is asking him to be more than just the guy behind center. The Bruins need him to be the leader, too.
That expectation was laid out plainly by head coach Bob Chesney, who told the Big Ten in an interview posted to its X account on Friday, "There is no doubt he is the leader of the team," Chesney said about Iamaleava in an interview posted by the Big 10 to its X account on Friday. Iamaleava is building critical chemistry, with the season opener against California just under seven weeks away.
The Big Ten also announced that Iamaleava will represent UCLA at Big Ten Media Days alongside defensive back Cole Martin, linebacker Samuel Omosigho, and Chesney.
On the field, Iamaleava’s 2025 numbers showed both the upside and the problems UCLA has to clean up. He finished 13th in the Big Ten with 175.3 passing yards per game, ranked 14th with a 123.49 passer rating, and was eighth in completion percentage at 64.4. But the efficiency dipped hard elsewhere: he was 17th in yards per attempt at 6.0, 12th with 13 touchdown passes, and 10th with seven interceptions thrown.
Those numbers came with some clear low points. Iamaleava posted career-worst marks in 2025 in yards per attempt, passer rating, a 4.0 TD percentage, a 2.2 interception percentage, a 5.80 adjusted YPA, and 9.3 yards per completion.
Pro Football Focus’ early look at the returning Big Ten quarterbacks places Iamaleava 10th with a 72.0 grade. Ohio State’s Julian Sayin leads the group at 92.9, while former UCLA quarterback Dante Moore, now at Oregon, is second at 90.2.
The quarterbacks ahead of Iamaleava also include several transfers: Anthony Colandrea at Nebraska, Katin Houser at Illinois, Rocco Becht at Penn State, Colton Joseph at Wisconsin, and Josh Hoover at Indiana.
The challenge for Iamaleava is bigger than just the stat sheet. He enters the 2026 season working under his third coach, offensive coordinator, and quarterback coach in as many seasons. Chesney has won everywhere he has been, putting together a winning record in all 16 of his seasons as a head coach across Division III, Division II, the Football Championship Subdivision, and the Group of Five.
UCLA’s new offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, Dean Kennedy, brings a familiar connection with Chesney. Kennedy is entering his fifth straight season and third program coaching under Chesney. He started as Holy Cross’ quarterbacks coach under Chesney in 2022, then served as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach there in 2023 before holding the same role at James Madison over the past two seasons.
There’s reason to think the fit could work. Dual-threat quarterbacks have thrived under Chesney and Kennedy, and Iamaleava is the most talented quarterback they have coached. The argument can also be made that Chesney and Kennedy are the best coaches Iamaleava has played for in college.
For UCLA, the formula is simple: the talent is there. Now Iamaleava has to turn it into production, consistency, and the kind of command Chesney says he already brings to the team.
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Serbias trip ended with a silver medal after the championship game, but the broader takeaway for UCLA is hard to miss. Jovanovics ties across Europe, especially in Serbia, have already helped the Bruins stay in the conversation for international talent, and his latest success only strengthens the case that UCLAs reach overseas is becoming a real part of its identity. [Read more 🡒]