Cal Football Hires New Head Coach

BERKELEY, CA — Former Cal defensive lineman Tosh Lupoi has been hired as the Golden Bears' new head coach, university officials announced Thursday.

Lupoi is now the 35th head coach in the program's history. He replaces longtime head coach Justin Wilcox, who was let go following a lopsided loss against rivals Stanford last month.

UC Berkeley Chancellor Rich Lyons said Tosh has the skills, experience and personal qualities to build a "best-in-class" football program.

"Tosh knows firsthand, and embraces the importance of, our culture that supports outstanding experiences for our student-athletes in the classroom, in competition and in our community," Lyons said. "I look forward to partnering with Ron and Tosh as they and the team chart a new course and this new future for Cal football."

Lupoi's football roots run deep at Berkeley.

Lupoi played as a defensive lineman for the Golden Bears from 2000 to 2005. He became the youngest full-time coach in the university's history when, at 26, he joined the staff as a defensive line coach in 2008

Since then, he's gone on to coach at several universities, including Alabama, where he was part of the staff that won two national championships. He's also coached in the NFL with the Cleveland Browns, Atlanta Falcons and Jacksonville Jaguars, according to the university.

This year, he coached at the University of Oregon, where he directed one of the top defenses in the country. The Ducks ranked third nationally in several defensive categories this season, including passing yards allowed per game.

"I'm deeply grateful for the opportunity to come home," Lupoi said in a statement. "Cal is a special place that shaped me, and it's an incredible honor to return to Berkeley and lead this football program. I'm energized by the challenge ahead and excited to unite our players, alumni, and supporters."

The announcement of a new coach comes just days before the Golden Bears learn which Bowl Game they will play in this year.

Lupoi will finish his playoff run with the Ducks before officially taking over the helm at Cal.