Report: Cal hires Vikings assistant Michael Hutchings as defensive coordinator

California is expected to hire Michael Hutchings as its next defensive coordinator, per Jordan Schultz. Hutchings has been the Minnesota Vikings’ safeties coach since 2024.

He served as the Vikings’ assistant defensive backs coach in 2023. Prior to that, Hutchings was the outside linebackers coach at Western Kentucky. He also has served as an assistant coach at Oregon and USC.

Hutchings will serve under new California head coach Tosh Lupoi, who has been Oregon’s defensive coordinator and linebackers coach since 2022. Following Lupoi’s debut campaign at Oregon, the Ducks have annually had a top-25 defense.

Oregon is having its best defensive campaign yet under Lupoi this season. The Ducks are giving up just 251.6 yards of offense per game, the third-least in the country.

Lupoi played defensive lineman at California from 2000-05. He led the team in tackles in 2003. In November, Oregon head coach Dan Lanning endorsed Lupoi’s ability to lead a team.

“Tosh is an unbelievable coach,” Lanning said. “I learned from him as much as, and now getting to work together in this setting as a head coach, but I’ve learned from him back when I was a GA at Alabama. And he is a relentless worker and an unbelievable guy in preparing. He’ll make an outstanding head coach, when the opportunity comes that he wants and it makes sense for him.

“Anybody that wouldn’t look at him would be crazy. I mean he does an unbelievable job. … He has a reputation of doing an unbelievable job as a recruiter, but that’s not all that he is. He’s an unbelievable coach. He can coach every position on defense, understands offensive ball, puts in the time and effort. So when he gets his opportunity I know he’ll kill it, and at some point that’ll happen.”

Evidently, Michael Hutchings also believes in Lupoi’s leadership. The pair will look to lead California to new heights in 2026.

Lupoi is continuing to serve as Oregon’s DC throughout the College Football Playoff. Nonetheless, he’s excited to be the head coach at his alma mater.

“I’m deeply grateful for the opportunity to come home,” Lupoi said in a statement. “Cal is a special place that shaped me, and it’s an incredible honor to return to Berkeley and lead this football program. I’m energized by the challenge ahead and excited to unite our players, alumni, and supporters.

“We will build a tough, disciplined, and relentlessly competitive team that represents Cal with pride, while always committing to academic excellence. I can’t wait to get to work and compete every single day for this program and this community. It’s time!”