Cal names Keith Bhonapha as next running backs coach

Keith Bhonapha is headed back home to the Bay Area. The former Michigan State running backs coach is joining Tosh Lupoi‘s staff in the same role, it was announced Monday. The Oakland native and Skyline High School alum joins the Bears after two seasons leading the Spartans’ running backs.

Bhonapha also served as the assistant head coach and co-special teams coordinator on Jonathan Smith’s staff in East Lansing. Prior to his time at Michigan State, the new Cal running backs coach led the running back units at Oregon State (2023) and Boise State (2022). He also carried the assistant head coach and associate head coach tags at the two programs, respectively.

One significant stop in his career came at Washington where he guided the running back unit from 2014-21. His time with the Huskies came shortly after Lupoi left Seattle for Alabama. However, they each spent time at UW as coaches.

Bhonapha didn’t coach on the same staff, but there is a connection to the current Bears team. The new Cal running backs coach was a defensive back at Hawai’i during the same time interim head coach Nick Rolovich played quarterback with the Rainbow Warriors.

The 45-year-old coach spent several years at Boise State both as a director of operations (2006-08) and running backs coach (2009-13). His stint coaching running backs with the Broncos was Bhonapha’s first foray into coaching on offense.

The defensive back began his career coaching his own position at his alma mater starting in 2003. Since 2009, he has coached offense and special teams.

Experience developing top running backs

Bhonapha joins Cal’s staff having tutored several of the game’s top running backs during his career. Most recently that included first round NFL draft pick Ashton Jeanty (Boise State) and fellow 2025 selection Damien Martinez (Oregon State).

While at Washington, Bhonapha developed star running back Myles Gaskin who was an All-Pac-12 performer selected in the 2019 draft. He coached two more NFL draft picks during his first stint with the Broncos — Jay Ajayi and Doug Martin. The latter was selected in the first round of the draft in 2012.

Bhonapha has coached players to eight first-team all-conference selections during his coaching career including Martinez while at Oregon State in 2023. Lupoi has not been shy about how much recruiting will factor into his program at Cal.

Bhonapha has an extended history as a noted recruiter and was the recruiting coordinator at UW for his for his first six seasons in Seattle. Among the recruits he helped the Huskies land was former top-100 running back Salvon Ahmed.

The Spartans averaged 122.8 yards per game and totaled 16 rushing touchdowns this season.

The Bears could return multiple key pieces in the running back group next season including leading rusher Kendrick Raphael, who still has remaining eligibility.

Keith Bhonapha background/coaching history

Hometown: Oakland, California
Alma mater: 1999-2002 (defensive back)

Coaching history

• 2003-05: Defensive backs/special teams (Hawaii)
• 2006-08: Director of operations (Boise State)
• 2009-13: Running backs (Boise State)
• 2014-21: Running backs (Washington)
• 2022: Associate head coach/running backs (Boise State)
• 2023: Assistant head coach/running backs (Oregon State)
• 2024-25: Assistant head coach/running backs/co-special teams coordinator (Michigan State)