Cal names Tosh Lupoi 35th head coach in program history

When Cal general manager Ron Rivera discussed what he would need to see from the next football coach last week, he may have let it slip. Rivera made a comment about why the next head coach would want to “come back” to Cal. Maybe he already knew then what he wanted to do, but Thursday it became public. Tosh Lupoi is going to be the 35th head coach in program history.

The school has announced the move signaling an end to a quick coaching search for the Bears. Rivera moved swiftly after Cal’s 31-10 loss to Stanford to fire Justin Wilcox after nine seasons. It took less than two weeks to find a replacement.

“We couldn’t be more thrilled to welcome Tosh and his family back home to Berkeley as our head football coach,” Rivera said in a statement released by the program. “Tosh is a true Golden Bear, and he understands and embraces the challenges and privileges of being a Cal student-athlete. His strong character, tireless work ethic, coaching acumen and recruiting talents all make him the perfect fit to lead us into the next great chapter of Cal football.”

In Lupoi, the Bears have a proven recruiter with a deep connection to Cal and the East Bay. The former Oregon defensive coordinator grew up in Walnut Creek and played for the Bears from 2000-05. He was hired as the youngest full-time coach in Cal history when he was brought in to lead the defensive line in 2008 at age 26.

The 44-year-old quickly became one of the top young coaches in his first stint with the Bears. Cal led the Pac-12 in total defense during Lupoi’s last season on staff in 2011. He helped develop Cam Jordan into a first-round draft pick and also guided Tyson Alualu to a first-team All-Pac-10 honors earlier in his career with the Bears.

He was named the Rivals Recruiter of the Year in 2010 after helping the Bears land the 14th-ranked recruiting class.

“After extensive conversations with Tosh, and consultation with many other people, I’m convinced he has the skillset, experience and personal qualities needed to build a best-in-class football program at UC Berkeley – one that operates in a manner consistent with our university’s values and unwavering commitment to excellence,” Cal chancellor Rich Lyons said. “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. 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 returns to Cal with plenty of experience

Lupoi has been on the path towards becoming a head coach over the last several years. He left Cal for Washington where he continued to build his resume as a top recruiter and assistant. His career went into overdrive when he landed at Alabama on staff with Nick Saban.

In Tuscaloosa, the Cal alum coached outside linebackers and was eventually promoted to a defensive coordinator role for the Crimson Tide. During his time at Alabama (2014-18), the program reached the College Football Playoff five times.

“I’m deeply grateful for the opportunity to come home,” Lupoi said. “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. We will build a tough, disciplined, and relentlessly competitive team that represents Cal with pride, while always committing to academic excellence. I can’t wait to get to work and compete every single day for this program and this community. It’s time!”

Alabama played for a national championship four times and came away with two titles during that span. He then went on to spend three seasons with three different NFL teams (Cleveland, Atlanta, Jacksonville) before returning to the college ranks at Oregon in 2022.

Under Dan Lanning, Lupoi has helped build one of the top programs in the country. He has served as the defensive coordinator in Eugene, and the Ducks currently boast the No. 3-ranked defense in the FBS.

Oregon has allowed the third-fewest passing yards this season and has allowed fewer than 15 points per game across 12 games.

Lupoi will be introduced at a press conference Friday afternoon. His initial contract with the Bears is expected to be for five years.

The Lupoi File

Cal – Defensive Line (2008-11)
Washington – Defensive Line (2012-13)
Alabama – Defensive Analyst (2014-15) | Outside Linebackers (2016) | Co-DC (2017) | DC (2018)
Cleveland Browns – Defensive Line (2019)
Atlanta Falcons – Defensive Line/Run Game Coordinator (2020)
Jacksonville Jaguars – Defensive Line (2021)
Oregon – Defensive Coordinator (2022-25)
Cal – Head Coach (Present)