Wilcox officially given reins
Confirming what’s been known for the better part of two days, Cal officially announced its hiring of Justin Wilcox as head football coach Saturday night.
The former Wisconsin defensive coordinator signed a five-year deal to replace Sonny Dykes, who was fired last Sunday after going 1-11 against the Pac-12’s other California schools during his four-year tenure.
During 16 years in college coaching, Wilcox has helped 14 teams to bowl games, including Wisconsin’s 24-16 Cotton Bowl victory this season over previously unbeaten Western Michigan. The 40-year-old was the
Bears’ linebackers coach from 2003-05, and his father, Dave Wilcox, was a Hall of Fame linebacker for the 49ers.
“I couldn’t be more excited to become head football coach at the University of California,” Wilcox said in a statement. His introductory news conference is scheduled for Tuesday morning. “It has been a dream of mine to lead a college football program, and there’s no better place than here at Cal, where I got my start and at a school that means so much to me.”
Cal director of athletics Mike Williams moved swiftly on the hiring after interviewing former Bears offensive coordinator Jake Spavital, who has reportedly taken the same post at West Virginia, and Navy head coach Ken Niumatalolo.
“Cal athletics is about high academics, it’s about comprehensive student-athlete experience, and it’s about winning championships,” Williams said in a statement. “We have found a coach in Justin Wilcox who embodies all of those principles.
“Justin is a smart, driven person of high character with a proven record of success.”
Wilcox guided Wisconsin’s defense to the No. 7 ranking this season. He spent seven seasons in the Pac-12, most recently as the defensive coordinator at USC in 2014-15. The Trojans ranked among the country’s top 20 in turnover margin, red-zone defense and third-down defense.
At Washington in 2012-13, Wilcox led the Huskies to top-40 finishes in total defense, passing defense and rushing defense after Washington had placed lower than 105th in each category before he arrived. He also had stints at Tennessee and Boise State, where the Broncos went 49-4 during his tenure from 2006-09.
Wilcox was a defensive back at Oregon (1996-99), helping the Ducks to three bowl games and earning All-Pac-10 playing and academic honors as a senior.
“Justin was one of the most competitive and knowledgeable players that I’ve ever had the opportunity to coach,” former Oregon head coach Mike Bellotti said. “It has never surprised me that he has become a great coach, because he understands football, he understands the student-athletes and he can coach ’em up.
“His understanding of the game and his willingness to prepare will make Cal a better football program.”