Cal football is ushering in a new era under Tosh Lupoi, and it’s clear he’s not just filling out a staff-he’s building a blueprint. On Saturday, the program announced a wave of assistant coaching hires, and the common thread is unmistakable: young, hungry, and battle-tested in the crucible of big-time college football. These aren’t just clipboard holders-they’re rising minds, many of whom cut their teeth in elite programs, and now they’re getting their shot to lead.
One of the standout additions? Connor Boyd, who steps into his first full-time on-field role as Cal’s new safeties coach.
From the Saban School to the Pac-12
Boyd’s journey starts at Alabama, which is about as foundational as it gets for a young coach. While still an undergrad, he worked under Nick Saban-arguably the gold standard for program-building in college football-and alongside Brent Key, who’s now the head coach at Georgia Tech. At Bama, Boyd was involved in the nuts and bolts of campus recruiting events, gaining early exposure to the operational side of a powerhouse program.
From there, he took the grind-it-out route-graduate assistant roles, volunteer spots, and film rooms. He worked with the offensive line and defensive scout team at Jacksonville State, then moved on to Tennessee in 2020 as a volunteer defensive assistant, followed by a GA role at Colorado in 2021.
These aren’t flashy jobs, but they’re where coaches learn the game inside and out-scheme, personnel, week-to-week adjustments. It’s also where the best ones earn trust.
Making His Mark at Oregon
Boyd’s most recent stop was Oregon, where he served as a defensive analyst under co-defensive coordinator and DBs coach Chris Hampton. And while analysts can’t recruit off-campus or coach on the field during games, don’t let the title fool you-Boyd was deeply involved in Oregon’s defensive prep, especially with the safeties.
Oregon didn’t just have a good pass defense in 2025-they had one of the best in the country. The Ducks finished fifth nationally in passing efficiency defense and were also fifth in limiting passes of 10+ yards, allowing just 74 all year.
That’s not just a stat line-it’s a reflection of preparation, communication, and discipline on the back end. And Boyd had a hand in all of it.
Hampton specifically credited Boyd for his work in film study and game prep. Without a dedicated safeties coach on staff, it was Boyd who stepped up, helping guide a unit that thrived in one of the toughest conferences in the country. That kind of behind-the-scenes impact doesn’t go unnoticed-and now, it’s earned him a full-time gig.
What This Means for Cal
This hire fits squarely into Lupoi’s vision: find coaches who’ve been in elite rooms, learned from the best, and are now ready to lead their own position groups. Boyd brings SEC and Pac-12 experience, a background in both offense and defense, and a reputation for being detail-oriented and trusted by the coaches around him.
For Cal’s safeties, this is a fresh voice with a high-level pedigree. For Boyd, it’s the next step in a climb that’s been built on substance over flash. And for Cal fans, it’s another sign that this staff isn’t just about filling slots-they’re building something with intent.
Welcome to Berkeley, Coach Boyd.