Geoff McArthur Returns to Cal: A Golden Bear Legend Reunites with His Roots
The California Golden Bears are turning the page to a new chapter, and they’re doing it with some familiar faces in the room. Among the latest additions to the coaching staff is a name that still echoes through Memorial Stadium: Geoff McArthur. The former Cal standout is stepping in as the new assistant wide receivers coach, and his return isn’t just symbolic - it’s a full-circle moment for one of the most prolific receivers in program history.
McArthur isn’t just another hire. He’s a living piece of Cal football lore.
Two decades after torching Pac-10 defenses, he still holds the school record for career receiving yards with 3,188. His 202 career receptions rank second all-time at Cal, and his 20 touchdown catches place him seventh on the list.
When you talk about the golden era of Cal football, McArthur’s name is front and center - especially when you remember he was Aaron Rodgers’ go-to guy for two seasons.
Back in 2003, McArthur put together one of the greatest receiving seasons in school history - and frankly, one of the best in college football that year. He racked up 1,504 receiving yards, a single-season record that still stands in Berkeley.
That breakout campaign earned him Second-Team All-American honors, a spot on the All-Pac-10 Second Team, and recognition as the Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame’s College Male Athlete of the Year. He was also named Cal’s Most Improved Player that season - a nod to the work ethic and drive that made him such a dynamic force on the field.
He didn’t slow down as a senior, either. McArthur led the team with 57 receptions, turning those into 862 yards and seven touchdowns. His name is also etched in the Cal record books for his 16-catch performance - tied for the most in a single game - and his 245-yard outburst in the 2003 Big Game still ranks as the second-highest single-game receiving yardage in school history.
Now, McArthur brings that same passion and knowledge back to the program, this time from the sidelines. He’s not a stranger to coaching, either.
His recent stops include St. John Bosco in Bellflower, where he worked with one of the top high school programs in the country.
Before that, he was on staff at Lindenwood in the Ohio Valley Conference and spent time as head coach and founder of Canada Prep Academy, helping student-athletes in Ontario prepare for college football. He’s also had stints at St.
Monica Catholic High and El Camino College, steadily building a résumé rooted in player development and mentorship.
But this return to Cal carries even deeper meaning. McArthur is in remission from non-Hodgkin diffuse large B-cell lymphoma - a serious diagnosis with a challenging road to recovery.
His battle with cancer only adds to the resilience and determination that have defined his life on and off the field. That he's back in Berkeley, healthy and ready to help shape the next generation of Golden Bears, is nothing short of inspiring.
And there’s another layer to this reunion: McArthur will be reuniting with Tosh Lupoi, a former teammate and roommate during their playing days at Cal. Now, they’re back on the same sideline, this time as coaches - a powerful reminder of how deep the Cal football bond runs.
For a program looking to build momentum, bringing in someone like McArthur - who knows the culture, the expectations, and what it takes to thrive in Berkeley - is more than just a feel-good story. It’s a smart, strategic move. He’s a living example of what it means to wear the blue and gold with pride, and now he gets to pass that legacy on.
Welcome home, Coach McArthur. The Bears are lucky to have you back.