He is back.

Nico Iamaleava – one of the highest-ranked recruits to join the Bruins in program history – will return to UCLA for his redshirt junior season, he announced Monday evening via Instagram.

The 6-foot-6 quarterback garnered 2,433 all-purpose yards and 17 total touchdowns through 11 games as the Bruins’ starting signal caller last season.

Iamaleava’s finalized return gives head coach Bob Chesney the most imperative cornerstone to build his foundation around for his first year at the Bruin helm. 

There was much speculation about Iamaleava’s future – given his resume and performance in Westwood – with some thinking he would either enter the transfer portal or declare for the 2026 NFL Draft.

But in the end, Iamaleava chose to stay home.

In his announcement on Instagram, Iamaleava captioned the video – which showed his best highlights donning the blue and gold and was voiced over by the signal caller – “NO PLACE LIKE HOME.”

The Long Beach, California, local will give the Bruins some continuity under center after the departure of interim head coach Tim Skipper and the likely exit of assistant head coach, tight ends coach and offensive play caller Jerry Neuheisel and senior defensive analyst Kevin Coyle – all of whom replaced the head coach and both coordinators that started UCLA’s 2025 campaign.

While Iamaleava will have a new face steering the ship with Chesney, the quarterback should have more stability with a new head honcho that is not likely to depart the program – unlike former head coach DeShaun Foster did when he was fired three games into the 2025 season after an 0-3 start.

Related: [Fos Era over in Westwood as UCLA parts ways with DeShaun Foster after 15 games]

Similarly, Iamaleava should have stability with his play-caller after working with Neuheisel and former offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Tino Suneri, who mutually agreed to depart UCLA after the first four games of the season.

Related: [Sunseri out in Westwood, following Foster and Malloe]

While Neuhesiel’s departure is not finalized, James Madison offensive coordinator Dean Kennedy will reportedly follow Chesney to the West Coast – as he did from Holy Cross to JMU – per CBS Sports.

Related: [Five Things: Analyzing coaching shakeups, roster changes and key returnees for UCLA football]

Kennedy has worked with Chesney for the last four seasons and helped JMU quarterback Alonza Barnett III earn 2025 Sun Belt Player of the Year after garnering 3,395 all-purpose yards and 38 combined touchdowns this season.

With a new face at the helm and familiarity and shared success between Chesney and Kennedy, Iamaleava’s production could reach new heights after what some may consider a “down year” for the redshirt sophomore in his first season in Westwood.

While Iamaleava’s 2025 campaign may be considered disappointing given his five-star, blue-chip status coming out of high school – and the near-3,000 all-purpose yards he produced when leading Tennessee to its first-ever College Football Playoff game in 2024 – the disaster of UCLA’s coaching changes gave Iamaleava more than he bargained for.

But with the coaching staff starting to establish itself and a new face at the top, Iamaleava could have all of the tools to build upon a promising first year at UCLA. 

The team’s 3-9 record may not have shown it, but Iamaleava consistently showcased flashes of the signal caller’s prowess, whether it was with his arm talent or his ability to utilize his legs.

Iamaleava’s talent is illustrated by the Bruins’ three-game win streak, which featured an upset over then-No. 7 Penn State and gave the Bruins their first top 10 victory since 2010. The quarterback combined for 723 yards and nine touchdowns over the three-game stretch.

While it is unclear who will remain from the eligible players left on the UCLA offense after the 2025 season, many fresh faces will likely make their way to Westwood to join Chesney and potentially uplift Iamaleava.

But for now, the Bruins have their quarterback.