Cal working to finalize deal to hire Oregon DC Tosh Lupoi as next head coach

Cal is working to finalize a deal to make Oregon defensive coordinator Tosh Lupoi its next head coach, On3’s Pete Nakos reported. The former Golden Bears defensive lineman would replace Justin Wilcox.

Lupoi’s name came up quickly in Cal’s coaching search after general manager Ron Rivera announced the decision to part ways with Wilcox. In addition to playing in Berkeley, he got his coaching start with the Golden Bears as defensive line coach from 2008-11. On3 reported earlier Tuesday that Lupoi was Cal’s top target.

As the search continued, another former Cal star vouched for Lupoi as the next head coach. DeSean Jackson took to social media to show support for his former teammate to get the role.

“This the Man For the Job @CalFootball,” Jackson wrote on X. “We all behind you & Supporting it!! @CoachLup leggggggo.”

Oregon’s defense ranked third in the nation in total defense during the 2025 regular season, allowing 251.6 yards per game. The Ducks also held teams to 14.8 points per game through 18 games, which ranked No. 8 in the FBS.

More background on Tosh Lupoi

After starting his coaching career at Cal, Tosh Lupoi spent two years at Washington as the Huskies’ defensive line coach before joining Nick Saban’s staff at Alabama. He started out as a defensive analyst from 2014-15 before becoming outside linebackers coach in 2016 and adding co-defensive coordinator duties in 2017. In 2018, Lupoi became Saban’s defensive coordinator.

Following three years in the NFL as defensive line coach for the Cleveland Browns, Atlanta Falcons and Jacksonville Jaguars, Lupoi returned to college football as Dan Lanning’s defensive coordinator at Oregon in 2022. The two worked closely together at Alabama, and they combined to build one of the top defenses in college football the last three seasons.

Oregon is already looking to fill an offensive coordinator vacancy this coaching cycle as the carousel spins. Will Stein is set to leave to become the head coach at Kentucky in 2026, though he will continue to serve as the Ducks’ OC through the College Football Playoff.

Oregon completed a 10-2 regular season with a rivalry victory over Washington in Week 14, though the Ducks missed out on the Big Ten Championship. They will now await their CFP after Tuesday’s penultimate rankings reveal and Sunday’s final Top 25 announcement.