The Cal football program is on the verge of a homecoming - and possibly a new era.
Cal is in negotiations to hire Oregon defensive coordinator Tosh Lupoi as its next head coach, a move that would bring the Walnut Creek native back to where it all started. Lupoi, a former standout defensive lineman for the Golden Bears from 2000 to 2005, is poised to return to his alma mater nearly 15 years after his first coaching stint in Berkeley.
This hire would mark the second major coordinator loss for Oregon in just a week. Earlier, offensive coordinator Will Stein accepted the head coaching job at Kentucky. Now, the Ducks’ defense - one of the nation’s most dominant units this season - could be losing the architect behind it.
Lupoi’s coaching journey has been a winding one, but it’s also been steeped in high-level experience. After his initial coaching role at Cal as the defensive line coach from 2008 to 2011, he climbed the college football ladder with stops at Washington and Alabama. It was with the Crimson Tide in 2018 that he earned his first role as a co-defensive coordinator, helping anchor one of the most feared defenses in the country.
From there, Lupoi transitioned to the NFL, where he brought his defensive expertise to the Browns, Falcons, and Jaguars as a defensive line coach. But in 2022, he returned to the college game, taking over as Oregon’s defensive coordinator - and the results have been nothing short of elite.
Under Lupoi, Oregon boasts the third-best defense in the FBS in both total yards and passing yards allowed per game. They also rank eighth nationally in points allowed per game, a testament to the discipline, speed, and physicality his units play with. His defenses don’t just bend without breaking - they rarely bend at all.
Now, he’s set to take over a Cal program looking to reset after parting ways with Justin Wilcox, who was dismissed following a loss to rival Stanford. Wilcox, ironically an Oregon alum, led the Bears from 2017 through 2025, compiling a 48-55 record, including a 6-5 mark this season.
If the deal is finalized, Lupoi will be tasked with revitalizing a Cal program that’s shown flashes of promise but has struggled to find consistency in recent years. His deep ties to the university, combined with a résumé that spans both powerhouse college programs and the NFL, give him a unique blend of pedigree and passion for the job.
It’s not just a coaching change - it’s a full-circle moment. And for Cal fans, it might just be the spark they’ve been waiting for.