Wilcox a finalist at Cal
Badgers could lose defensive coordinator
Madison — Wisconsin coach Paul Chryst could lose his defensive coordinator for the second time in two years.
Justin Wilcox, who helped UW field one of the top defenses in the nation in 2016, is reportedly in talks to become the head coach at California. FoxSports.com first reported the ongoing talks.
Head coach Sonny Dykes was fired Sunday, and Wilcox was one of at least two finalists. The other finalist was reportedly Cal interim coach Jake Spavital.
Wilcox, who coached linebackers at Cal from 2003-’05, interviewed for the position this week.
According to a source close to the UW program, Chryst is aware that Wilcox has spoken with Cal officials.
Wilcox, 40, was the defensive coordinator at USC in 2014 and ’15 before coming to UW.
He took over for Dave Aranda, who ran UW’s defense from 2013-’15 until accepting the job as LSU’s defensive coordinator after the 2015 Holiday Bowl.
UW under Wilcox finished No. 4 nationally in scoring defense (15.6 ppg.) and No. 7 in total defense (301.4 ypg.) in 2016.
Wilcox is set to be paid $950,000 by UW in 2017 and will receive an additional $100,000 if he is still on the staff on Jan.
1, 2018.
Wilcox is a native of Eugene, Ore. He is the son of Dave Wilcox, a former all-pro linebacker for the San Francisco 49ers and a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Justin Wilcox played defensive back at Oregon (1996-’99). He has been a defensive coordinator for the last 11 seasons.
He was the coordinator at Boise State from 2006-’09, at Tennessee from 2010-’11, at Washington from 2012-’13 and at USC.