Cal’s Coaches

Cal hired former Cal high-effort defensive lineman Tosh Lupoi  as their new head coach just over a month ago. He’s spent the time between then and now coaching the defense of the Oregon Ducks, recruiting for the Golden Bears, and putting together his first coaching staff. It’s been a busy month. No real evidence but I think he likes being busy. As a Cal fan, student, and alumnus since the mid 1970s, I can’t recall greater excitement over a new head coach. Hiring Keith Gilbertson away from Washington in 1992 was a strong move but never really brought anything near this sort of excitement. The most successful Cal coaches of my time were Bruce Snyder and Jeff Tedford. Those hires weren’t door-busters. Lupoi has been. Is it just because he’s a former Golden Bears player? Maybe. I don’t recall this level of excitement when Joe Kapp was hired. He was the last quarterback to take Cal to the Rose Bowl. That’s significant. He was the Cal coach when I was a student. That’s even more significant. In my life with Cal, the coaching thread has been Mike White to Roger Theder to Kapp to Snyder to Gilbertson to Steve Mariucci to Tom Holmoe to Tedford to Sonny Dykes to Justin Wilcox. 10 coaches. Cal football isn’t like Cal Rugby, Cal Swimming, Cal Water Polo, etc. Cal is strong in a lot of things. Since the early 1920s, football hasn’t been one of those things. Excitement around Cal football is a fleeting thing. There’s excitement around Cal football now. That’s a very good thing and it’s due to the return of Tosh Lupoi to Berkeley. And he’s brought some Bears with him. Here’s a look at Cal’s new football coaches. 

Cal’s Coaches

Head Coach: Tosh Lupoi

Assistant Head Coach/Quarterbacks Coach

Nick Rolovich

Offensive Coordinator

Jordan Somerville

Offensive Pass Game Coordinator

Pat McCann

Assistant Quarterbacks Coach

Jeff McDaniels

Running Backs Coach/Recruiting Coordinator

Keith Bhonapha

Receivers Coach/Co-Offensive Coordinator

Ike Hilliard

Assistant Receivers Coach

Geoff McArthur

Tight Ends Coach

Steve Haunga

Assistant Tight Ends Coach

Mike Saffell

Offensive Line Coach

Famika Anae

Defensive Coordinator

Michael Hutchings

Assistant Defensive Coordinator

Ryan Barry

Defensive Pass Game Coordinator

Keith Heyward

Defensive Line/Pass Rush Specialist

Darrion Daniels

Assistant Defensive Line

Eddy McGilvra

Assistant Edge Coach

Lorenzo Alexander

Inside Linebackers Coach

Bob Gregory

Assistant Inside Linebackers

Sione Ta’Ufo’Ou

Defensive Backs/Co-Defensive Coordinator 

Da’Von Brown

Safeties Coach

Connor Boyd

Special Teams Coordinator 

Zach Tinker

It’s an interesting group. One of the interesting aspects of the group is the number of former Golden Bears players. Geoff McArthur and Lorenzo Alexander were teammates of Tosh Lupoi. Bob Gregory was Cal’s defensive coordinator. Mike Saffell played for Cal more recently. The cool thing about Lupoi, McArthur, and Alexander returning to Berkeley is that the trio is among my favorite Cal football players. I’m thrilled with their return. I don’t think I’m alone.

Michael Hutchings is also of personal interest. He left the Minnesota Vikings for the defensive coordinator opportunity with Cal. He’s a coach on the rise. As a Vikings fan, I hated to see him go. As a Cal fan, I love the hire. At 30, he has a lot of coaching in front of him. I wouldn’t be surprised if he gets head coach interest in a couple years. That would mean that he’s a success at Cal.

Ike Hilliard is of particular interest because of the playing career that he had. Keith Bhonapha is an interest for the running backs he’s coached. 

Welcome to Berkeley for most. Welcome back for the rest.