Cal expected to hire Ole Miss analyst Sterlin Gilbert as their quarterbacks coach

The California Golden Bears are expected to hire Ole Miss analyst Sterlin Gilbert as their quarterbacks coach, per Matt Zenitz. Gilbert has been the offensive coordinator at stops such as the Texas Longhorns and the Syracuse Orange. He’s also been the head coach for McNeese State.

The news broke on Saturday afternoon. Gilbert was a player personnel analyst this year for Lane Kiffin.

Gilbert was also the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Syracuse, where he worked for the 2020 and 2021 seasons. Prior to that, he was the head coach at McNeese State for the 2019 season, the OC and QBs coach at South Florida in 2017-18, and held those same roles at Texas in 2016 under Charlie Strong.

The only time Gilbert has spent more than two seasons coaching one team was when he spent three seasons from 2008-10 coaching Lake View High School in Texas. He’s coached or been an analyst at 13 different schools — college and high school — since 2003.

The full list of teams Gilbert has coached or been an analyst for: Springtown (Texas) High School, Houston, Cooper (Texas) High School, Lake View (Texas) High School, Temple (Texas) High School, Eastern Illinois, Bowling Green, Tulsa, Texas, South Florida, McNeese State, Syracuse, and Ole Miss.

In joining the Golden Bears, Gilbert will be working under head coach Justin Wilcox, who led Cal to a 6-6 overall record and a berth in the Independence Bowl this year. They’ll face off against the Texas Tech Red Raiders on Dec. 16th.

Gilbert will have one of the most explosive weapons in all of college football to work with, Golden Bears running back Jaydn Ott. He’s one of the most electrifying players in the nation and he’s demonstrated jaw-dropping speed. In 2022, he had 170 carries for 897 yards and eight touchdowns. In 2023, Ott had 229 carries for 1,260 yards and 11 touchdowns. This season, he brought home first team All-Pac-12 honors.

As a receiver in 2022, he hauled in 46 catches for 321 yards and three touchdowns. In 2023, Ott hauled in 21 catches for 141 yards and two touchdowns. He’ll certainly be one of the biggest weapons that Gilbert will be working to get the football early and often.

Cal faces off against Texas Tech in the Independence Bowl in Shreveport, Louisiana. Texas Tech is currently favored in that one by three points.

On3’s Andrew Graham also contributed to this article.