UCLA set to hire former Wisconsin coach for defensive coordinator role

Former Wisconsin defensive assistant Colin Hitschler is set to become UCLA's new defensive coordinator, according to ESPN's Pete Thamel.

Hitschler would move over from James Madison, where he coached a College Football Playoff-bound defense in 2025. The Bruins recently hired JMU head coach Bob Chesney to take over the program. Hitschler is unlikely to be the only Dukes assistant to follow Chesney to the Big Ten.

• UCLA set to hire former Wisconsin coach for defensive coordinator role

Follow Ups:

• Seems to be a good and reasonable choice since he coached with Chesney hotspot 14:51:31 12/22/25 (2)
  • He was co-DC at those stops donutello 16:14:08 12/22/25 (0)
  • Re: Seems to be a good and reasonable choice since he coached with Chesney TJJ 15:03:34 12/22/25 (0)
• Such a weird headline - he's the current James Madison DC donutello 10:23:47 12/22/25 (4)
  • I Had the Exact Same Reaction, At Least Until UCLA78 23:21:29 12/22/25 (0)
  • Great news - probably the most important staff to come with him Pyperkub 11:27:11 12/22/25 (1)
    • Re: Great news - probably the most important staff to come with him TheHappyBurgermeister 12:15:37 12/22/25 (0)
  • Yes, that was "Badgers Wire" headline; Thamel's X post was straight... BabyBear 11:18:29 12/22/25 (0)

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