Cal Coaching Search: ESPN names five candidates to replace Justin Wilcox

Cal became the thirteenth school to make a midseason firing with their decision to move on from Justin Wilcox on Sunday. That has already resulted in several hot boards and lists of names that are already out for who could follow him in Berkeley.

ESPN was one of the latest outlets to release one, which was shared as part of an article this evening. It named five candidates, a pair of big-name coordinators as well as three head coaches, two in the Group of Five and one from the FCS, who could be candidates for the Golden Bears.

On3’s Pete Nakos has also since posted a hot board of his own tonight. It won’t be the last one either, as they prepare to begin a coaching search now, with one week left in the regular season, at Cal.

Here were the five candidates suggested by ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg:

Oregon DC Tosh Lupoi

With his resumé, as a defensive coach and as a recruiter, and experience at his alma mater, Lupoi is “the clear favorite to land the job” as written at ESPN. He now, after playing and working for the Golden Bears from 2000 to 2011 before stops at Washington, Alabama under Nick Saban, the Cleveland Browns, the Atlanta Falcons, the Jacksonville Jaguars, and now Oregon (19.6 points per game allowed as DC) under Dan Lanning, could be primed to come back to where he began in being the program’s successor to Wilcox.

“Lupoi, 44, is a former Cal player who has accelerated his career at Oregon, and would galvanize the school’s approach toward personnel,” they wrote at ESPN. “He has long had the reputation as one of the more aggressive recruiters on the West Coast, and should upgrade Cal’s talent base with the right support.”

Alabama OC Ryan Grubb

In line to soon take a role as a head coach somewhere, Grubb, with his work under and alongside Kalen DeBoer at Alabama (33.8 ppg.), Washington (37.9 ppg.), Fresno State (32.1 ppg.), and Sioux Falls, as well as a stop as offensive coordinator of the Seattle Seahawks (22.1 ppg. in 2024), could have a chance at an opportunity like this one in Berkeley. It’s just whether he thinks this is the one, although with ties to the west coast, is the one for him.

“His next stop likely will take him to a head-coaching role. The only question is, where?” they wrote at ESPN. “He’s familiar with the area and would bring an exciting and innovative offense to Berkeley.”

San Diego State’s Sean Lewis

Lewis is the most experienced head coach on this list with seven years in total at Kent State (24-31) and San Diego State (12-11), with a one-year stop in between as the offensive coordinator at Colorado under Deion Sanders, with an overall record of 36-42 (.462). Offense is his background, namely with the Rockets, but he’s also coaching a team right now for the Aztecs that has, by far, his best defense in his career.

“If Cal wants an offensive-minded coach with experience within the state, Lewis makes a lot of sense…Lewis, 39, built his reputation with a fast-paced, productive offense, but his second SDSU team has leaned on its defense, recording three shutouts and five other games where it has allowed 10 points or fewer,” they wrote at ESPN.

New Mexico’s Jason Eck

Eck also has head coaching experience, and is getting his first taste of it this year in Division I at New Mexico (8-3) after three seasons as one in the FCS at Idaho (26-13). He could now be an exciting, under-the-radar name worth following for the Golden Bears.

“Berkeley is a different sort of place and Eck is a different kind of dude. His fun, eccentric personality might make him a great fit at Cal,” they wrote at ESPN. “He has done great work in his first season at New Mexico, reshaping the roster and guiding the Lobos to an 8-3 record that includes wins at both UCLA and UNLV.”

UC Davis’ Tim Plough

Finally, Plough is a name that UC Berkeley should be pretty familiar with, as he is the head coach on the campus an hour up the road at UC Davis, in his third time back with his alma mater, and also was the tight ends coach at Cal in 2023. Now, with a record of 19-6 (.760) the last season and a half with the Aggies, the Golden Bears could now consider him to be their next head coach.

“He’s already working in the University of California system — always a plus for Cal hires — and has worked for the Bears already, as he spent the 2023 season as the team’s tight ends coach before landing the UC Davis job. The 40-year-old is 19-6 at Davis with a No. 5 finish last season. He also played quarterback there and is on his third coaching stint at his alma mater,” they wrote at ESPN. “Plough is young and hasn’t spent much time in the FBS, but could pay off for Cal.”