Tosh Lupoi is going home. The former Cal defensive lineman, who left Berkeley nearly two decades ago to build a career in elite college and professional football, has been named the 35th head coach in Golden Bears history—a full-circle moment for someone who understands this program from the inside.
Lupoi played for Cal from 2000 to 2005, earning Pac-10 All-Academic honors as a senior. He returned to coach the defensive line from 2008 to 2011, becoming the youngest full-time coach in program history at 26. In that first stint, he helped recruit two highly touted classes and developed two first-round NFL defensive linemen. The Bears led the Pac-12 in total defense twice during his tenure.
But his résumé since then reads like a masterclass in defensive football. He spent five years at Alabama under Nick Saban, including two seasons as co-defensive coordinator and one as sole coordinator. He helped develop All-Americans Quinnen Williams and Dieonte Thompson, both drafted in 2019. At Oregon over the past four seasons, he coordinated one of the country's top defenses—the Ducks finished the 2025 regular season ranked third nationally in multiple defensive categories. On Tuesday, he was named a Broyles Award semifinalist for the second consecutive year, recognition given to the nation's top assistant coach.
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Start Your News DetoxLupoi also spent three seasons in the NFL with the Cleveland Browns, Atlanta Falcons, and Jacksonville Jaguars, working alongside multiple All-Pros and Pro Bowlers.
What makes this hire significant isn't just the pedigree. Cal football has been searching for stability and direction. Ron Rivera, the program's general manager, framed the choice around both competence and identity: "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."
Lupoi's statement carried the tone of someone returning to unfinished business. "Cal is a special place that shaped me, and it's an incredible honor to return to Berkeley and lead this football program," he said. "We will build a tough, disciplined, and relentlessly competitive team that represents Cal with pride, while always committing to academic excellence."
The next chapter of Cal football begins with someone who's already written chapters elsewhere—and now gets to rewrite the one at home.
