Imago
September 20, 2025: James Madison Dukes head coach Bob Chesney before the NCAA, College League, USA football game between the James Madison Dukes and the Liberty Flames at Williams Stadium in Lynchburg, Virginia. /CSM Lynchburg USA – ZUMAc04_ 20250920_zma_c04_474 Copyright: xGregxAtkinsx
Imago
September 20, 2025: James Madison Dukes head coach Bob Chesney before the NCAA, College League, USA football game between the James Madison Dukes and the Liberty Flames at Williams Stadium in Lynchburg, Virginia. /CSM Lynchburg USA – ZUMAc04_ 20250920_zma_c04_474 Copyright: xGregxAtkinsx
As the portal wars rapidly chew through the $20.5 million NIL cap, Bob Chesney’s UCLA Bruins receive a $9.3 million respite. All thanks to the late beloved alum Lawrence Layne, whose love for his alma mater lives on through his generosity.
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“Larry fully understood the hard work and determination that was needed to be at his best both on and off the field, ” the head coach stated. “And this incredibly generous gift will make a big impact on helping us build a championship football team.”
“I am very grateful to Larry and his wife, Sheelagh, for their support of UCLA and our football program. We will make sure that Larry’s legacy lives on by continuing to support our student-athletes and upholding our university’s True Bruin values,” Bob Chesney added.
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On Tuesday, UCLA announced a $17.3 million investment to upgrade its athletic division. A whopping $9.3 million of the investment is earmarked for the football program. The million-dollar investment is part of the beloved Larry’s $40 million bequest to continue giving back to the school he loved and cherished for decades.
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UCLA football HC Bob Chesney:
“Larry fully understood the hard work and determination that was needed to be at his best both on and off the field, and this incredibly generous gift will make a big impact on helping us build a championship football team.” https://t.co/uP0wpbaHoO
— Ira Gorawara (@IraGorawara) January 13, 2026
Larry arrived at the Bruins during the 1970s. While pursuing an MBA, it was the rugby field that made him fall in love with the Blue and Gold. Mentored by the legendary Dennis Storer, he helped the program to the 1975 National Rugby Championship.
It’s been more than three decades since beloved Larry continued contributing to his alma mater. As his widow, Sheelagh shares, he was a Bruin through and through.
“Larry enjoyed nothing more than going to the Rose Bowl or Pauley Pavilion,” says Sheelagh Boyd, according to UCLA. “Even in his last year of life, he was known to scooter, dressed in his blue and gold, from Marina del Rey to Westwood so that he could support his beloved Bruins.”
His impact on the Bruins went beyond his playing career. He coached the UCLA women’s rugby team and helped renovate the Pauley Pavilion. His contributions were not just for athletics; among the $40 million bequest, a significant chunk is pledged for UCLA’s health department, the entrepreneurial and real estate wing, the school of management, and the Center for the Art of Performance. Last but not least, the Men’s Rugby, a sport close to his heart, received $3.8 million.
At a time when NIL plays a significant role in bringing elite talent to the program, Lawrence’s generous contribution couldn’t come at a more opportune moment.
Timely boost for Bob Chesney’s UCLA
For UCLA head coach Bob Chesney, rebuilding a 3-9 program is proving to be a challenging task. While key players such as WR Kwazi Gilmer and Rico Flores Jr. left for greener pastures, it’s not all doom and gloom. The Bruins have got his back, packed with a $9.3 million financial punch.
When Judge Claudia Wilken gave the green light to the $20.5 million revenue-sharing cap, UCLA wasn’t exactly flush with cash. As the 2025 season commenced, the cracks could no longer be ignored. Although Deshaun Foster was successful in getting QB Nico Iamaleava to the Bruins, the 0-3 record eventually exposed those cracks.
The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman and Ira Gorawara reported on UCLA’s “lack of financial resources.” UCLA has piled up more than $200 million in athletic department debt in recent years.” But with alum Larry’s generous gift, the program and Bob Chesney have received a boost.
When Chesney arrived at James Madison, he did not shy away from using the portal to rebuild the Dukes. At UCLA, that equation won’t be any different. Already, the Bruins have been successful in landing DL Sahir West, Maxwell Roy, Amier Washington, and thirty other players.
Written by
Edited by
Jayakrishna Dasappan