Breaking News: Cal is set to welcome Tosh Lupoi as their new head coach! After a tumultuous season, the California Golden Bears are making a significant move, and the college football world is buzzing. Sources confirm that Cal has reached an agreement with Oregon's defensive coordinator, Tosh Lupoi, for a five-year contract. This decision comes in the wake of Justin Wilcox's departure, who had a record of 48-55 over nine seasons.
Lupoi quickly emerged as the frontrunner for the head coaching position. But here's where it gets interesting: several high-profile former players were vocal in their support, even privately lobbying Cal's general manager, Ron Rivera, to bring Lupoi on board.
Lupoi's connection to Cal runs deep. He played for the Golden Bears from 2000 to 2005 and kicked off his coaching career there in 2008 under head coach Jeff Tedford. During his time as a defensive line coach at Berkeley, Lupoi earned a reputation as an exceptional recruiter. And this is the part most people miss: The 44-year-old coach is also a Bay Area native, having attended the prestigious De La Salle High School.
His coaching journey then took him to Washington for a year, followed by a five-year stint at Alabama, where he served as an analyst, outside linebackers coach, and defensive coordinator in 2018. After that, Lupoi spent three years in the NFL before landing at Oregon in 2022 as the defensive coordinator under Dan Lanning. Under Lupoi's leadership, the Ducks' defense has consistently ranked among the top 25 in the nation for the past three seasons.
Adding to the intrigue, Lanning confirmed that Lupoi and offensive coordinator Will Stein, who is set to become Kentucky's new head coach, will remain in their roles throughout the Ducks' playoff run before transitioning to their new positions.
Controversy Alert: The Golden Bears haven't seen a winning record in conference play since Tedford's tenure in 2009. Could Lupoi be the one to turn things around? What do you think about Cal's choice? Share your thoughts in the comments!
