Ex-Cal coach Theder, 77, dies
Coached Bears to upset in 1980 Big Game over Stanford
Former Cal football coach Roger Theder, who in his later years independently tutored numerous high school quarterback prospects including Colin Kaepernick, has died at age 77.
Theder, who lived in Orinda, coached at Cal for a decade, first under former coach Mike White as an assistant and then served as head coach for four years from 1978 to 1981, posting an overall record of 17-28. Following his years at Cal, Theder also was an assistant in the NFL with the Baltimore Colts and San Diego Chargers.
Theder started his career in college football as an assistant under John Ralston at Stanford from 1968-71, where he worked with Heisman Trophy winner Jim Plunkett, and finished it at San Jose State, where he served as offensive coordinator from 1993-96. In retirement, he tutored numerous top Northern California high school quarterbacks, including Kaepernick.
Theder’s most successful season at Cal came in 1979, when the Golden Bears finished 7-5, including 5-4 in the Pacific 10 Conference. That team played in Cal’s first bowl game since in 21 years, the Garden State Bowl, where the Bears lost to Temple 28-17.
Theder’s greatest victory, however, may have come in the 1980 Big Game, when a 2-8 Cal team upset Stanford and standout quarterback John Elway 28-23 despite having to use a backup quarterback, J Torchio, in place of injured starter Rich Campbell, who went on to be a first-round NFL draft pick.
Theder’s most notable player during his tenure as Cal head coach was All-America linebacker Ron Rivera, who went on to a nine-year career in the NFL with the Chicago Bears and is now the head coach of the defending NFC champion Carolina Panthers.
Rivera was the first to publicly break the news of Theder’s death on Twitter and he paid tribute to his former coach: “#RIP to my 1st @CalFootball HC Roger Theder. You believed in me & offered a scholarship 2 @CAL which I will 4ever be grateful.”
Theder mentored the 49ers’ Kaepernick when the quarterback was a burgeoning star at John H. Pitman High in Turlock. Theder’s work with Kaepernick on mechanics and fundamentals helped him land a scholarship at the University of Nevada-Reno.
College golf
Led by freshman Andrea Lee, Stanford moved into third place after 36 holes of the season-opening Windy City Collegiate at Glen View Club in Chicago.
Playing in her first college event, Lee shot a 4under 68 in the morning, then followed up with a 71 in the afternoon to finish at 5-under 139. Lee is fourth individually, four strokes behind leader Bailey Tardy of Georgia.
The Cardinal combined for a four-player score of 3-over 291 in the morning, but rebounded later, shooting 6-under 282, tying for the low total of the session. Casey Danielson and Sierra Kersten shot 70s. Lee and Shannon Aubert contributed 71s.
Georgia is the team leader at 12-under 564, followed by USC (568) and Stanford (573).