I was sorry to see Burl 3rd go, but this hire has me excited. His previous history with Harsin means he's a good fit. Also, with his track record, he looks like a solid hire. Now, if he can get our WR's to block on screens I'll be very happy. Wondering who Harsin has in mind for OL coach? I'm guessing that AT and Saffell are both staying.
As much as I would love for Cal to get better coaches, I'm a bit afraid about the Bowl Game coaching. Wilcox said it's going to be a collective effort, but will we have any offensive coaches left to coach the game next week?
I also understand we got to act quickly to get better coaches and should not wait. Releasing existing coaches allow them to find new jobs easier too, so that's also a good gesture.
Agree. Without Mendoza and coaching by committee against a ranked team, I'd say we will have a tough day. The only thing in our favor is that the HC for UNLV won't be there...he's off to Purdue. I think their OC may be on the move as well.
I know next season success is more important than the bowl game, but a bowl game victory sends the team in a positive spirit going into off-season. It might help some players to stay at Cal.
Very true, and after all the tumult, a bowl victory would establish that the team is about more than one person. Btw, I've heard that Nando is going to Indiana but have seen nothing in print yet. Any ideas?
Agree. I think Wilcox is evolving the program to the new era of college football. In the past it was all about recruiting, relationships and developing your players. Now its about money and a pathway to the NFL. Hiring known coaches with track records of developing top talent will help in attracting top talent in the portal.
I would not be surprised to see a few more up and coming assistants end up on the staff.
On that very subject I watched a Youtube video last night with Mike Lombardi about the UNC hire of Bill Belichick. What is abundantly clear is that UNC is moving to a pro style system with Lombardi, a former Pats GM with Belechick and they won 3 Super Bowls together, as the new GM for UNC football. His vision is that they want to turn UNC into a pipeline program that develops future NFL players and they have the best NFL coach in history to lead that program. If you are a young player, that is music to your ears.
Their recruiting will be similar to the way Coach Prime does it at Colorado; players are going to come to them to be coached up by Belichick. Interesting times.
What I like about this story is not so much that you need to become a pro style in order to succeed in this evolving (which i hate) landscape, but that you need clarity of vision (i.e., clear identity as a program) and a way to measure success beyond just win/loss
Yes, this is like Andrew Luck on the farm. It's the recognition that the great college game many of us have loved many decades, is now nothing more than a farm league. Watching the Rams and 9ers last night, it was so nice to see teams play that have played for 50+ years. Knowing that salary caps and such means the teams on the field are really a reflection on the quality of GM and coaches.
This hire sounds like a good move, for sure. I just can't get over my sadness about no longer being able to cheer for players, and only hoping to be able to cheer for the uniform.
You hit the nail on the head with the 'Farm League' observation. What pisses me off is that the NCAA does all the hard work developing these kids, and paying for it, even if some schools are profitable, and then the top kids go on to the NFL and the NFL reaps huge rewards without investing a dime...and they get all the tax breaks as well. The NFL is the biggest grift going.
Yeah, they sorta want to be like what Calipari's KU teams were for the NBA. I usually want splashy hires like this one to fail frankly (Hah). But I'm rooting for him. Would be great for the conference for him to find some success.
Now, this is a good hire! It's also incredibly smart. To keep a wide receivers intact, we better had brought something of substance.So now they know they're going to be developed.
Hey Rugbear (and others in the know) -- what does the rumor mill say about potential portal QBs for Cal? I've seen the mention of Malachi Nelson by some analysts who have Cal in the mix for his services (Nelson was a five star QB from SoCal who was very briefly at USC before going to Boise and losing the QB competition there to a guy who still has two years of eligibility, so back in the portal he goes). Do you know if Cal is actually interested in Nelson or is Cal setting its sights on someone else? Nelson has three years left.
I know what you mean, but after the Mendoza jilting, Ott would be a large symbolic victory for fans and the program. It sends a very different message than the one Nando just sent to other guys looking at our program. Plus, Ott was hurt this year and Harsin's system should feature his talents well.
Great to see an off-season move that looks good all around. Young up and comer with success on the field and in recruiting. I don't think we could have expected better.
My guess is Harsin wants to be a HC again considering his successful run at Boise, so this could be our insurance policy considering Cefalo's OC experience. I'm not predicting that Cal figures things out offensively and Harsin gets a HC gig and Cefalo's ready to take his job, but Wilcox should be preparing as though success will happen even if that optimism isn't shared among many fans. This sort of happened with Spavital having success and moving on to what he felt was a better gig (I think it's clear he wants to be in TX and that's understandable), but Bloesch obviously didn't work out as the internal promotion who had mid-major OC experience. I'm willing to give Bloesch the benefit of the doubt should he return as OL coach, but also wouldn't mind fresh blood. We need some serious OL recruiting wins.
I want a new OL coach who will carry out Harsin’s vision 100% without any hesitation so that Harsin succeeds or fails on his own merits and can’t blame anyone else.
But did he? The year before his promotion, under spavital, we were air raid. So all he needed to do was pass pro. When we wanted to run this year (which I take is harder on linemen and requires more coordination and better technique), we faltered.
IHe should focus on next year and next year alone. If guys are in a position to move up elsewhere that's probably a sign that things went well. Otherwise there will be no future here for this group.
A Novato native who starting coaching at City College of San Francisco. A bit tainted by covid vaccine refusal at Washington State that got him fired (and he still has a lawsuit against them), so in some ways Berkeley seems like a strange place for him to land.
Nice. Reminds me a bit of what Madsen brought with him to the Cal Basketball program when he was hired from a smaller program. Potentially talent Cal might have missed out on.
Official now: https://calbears.com/news/2024/12/12/football-kyle-cefalo-joins-bears-as-receivers-coach.aspx
I was sorry to see Burl 3rd go, but this hire has me excited. His previous history with Harsin means he's a good fit. Also, with his track record, he looks like a solid hire. Now, if he can get our WR's to block on screens I'll be very happy. Wondering who Harsin has in mind for OL coach? I'm guessing that AT and Saffell are both staying.
As much as I would love for Cal to get better coaches, I'm a bit afraid about the Bowl Game coaching. Wilcox said it's going to be a collective effort, but will we have any offensive coaches left to coach the game next week?
I also understand we got to act quickly to get better coaches and should not wait. Releasing existing coaches allow them to find new jobs easier too, so that's also a good gesture.
Has Bloesch and Gilbert been released from Cal?
No. They could be gone by next week though.
Agree. Without Mendoza and coaching by committee against a ranked team, I'd say we will have a tough day. The only thing in our favor is that the HC for UNLV won't be there...he's off to Purdue. I think their OC may be on the move as well.
I know next season success is more important than the bowl game, but a bowl game victory sends the team in a positive spirit going into off-season. It might help some players to stay at Cal.
Very true, and after all the tumult, a bowl victory would establish that the team is about more than one person. Btw, I've heard that Nando is going to Indiana but have seen nothing in print yet. Any ideas?
He'd be joining his brother.
No I haven't seen any news
UCLA, Georgia, Indiana and Wisconsin are the candidates
ugh, please not UCLA!!!
Miami isn't in the mix?
Great hire! I hope he can teach blocking 🙃
Agree. I think Wilcox is evolving the program to the new era of college football. In the past it was all about recruiting, relationships and developing your players. Now its about money and a pathway to the NFL. Hiring known coaches with track records of developing top talent will help in attracting top talent in the portal.
I would not be surprised to see a few more up and coming assistants end up on the staff.
On that very subject I watched a Youtube video last night with Mike Lombardi about the UNC hire of Bill Belichick. What is abundantly clear is that UNC is moving to a pro style system with Lombardi, a former Pats GM with Belechick and they won 3 Super Bowls together, as the new GM for UNC football. His vision is that they want to turn UNC into a pipeline program that develops future NFL players and they have the best NFL coach in history to lead that program. If you are a young player, that is music to your ears.
Their recruiting will be similar to the way Coach Prime does it at Colorado; players are going to come to them to be coached up by Belichick. Interesting times.
What I like about this story is not so much that you need to become a pro style in order to succeed in this evolving (which i hate) landscape, but that you need clarity of vision (i.e., clear identity as a program) and a way to measure success beyond just win/loss
It's a sad reality. NCAA is the farm system of NFL.
Yes, this is like Andrew Luck on the farm. It's the recognition that the great college game many of us have loved many decades, is now nothing more than a farm league. Watching the Rams and 9ers last night, it was so nice to see teams play that have played for 50+ years. Knowing that salary caps and such means the teams on the field are really a reflection on the quality of GM and coaches.
This hire sounds like a good move, for sure. I just can't get over my sadness about no longer being able to cheer for players, and only hoping to be able to cheer for the uniform.
You hit the nail on the head with the 'Farm League' observation. What pisses me off is that the NCAA does all the hard work developing these kids, and paying for it, even if some schools are profitable, and then the top kids go on to the NFL and the NFL reaps huge rewards without investing a dime...and they get all the tax breaks as well. The NFL is the biggest grift going.
Amen.
So true sadly…
Yeah, they sorta want to be like what Calipari's KU teams were for the NBA. I usually want splashy hires like this one to fail frankly (Hah). But I'm rooting for him. Would be great for the conference for him to find some success.
Now, this is a good hire! It's also incredibly smart. To keep a wide receivers intact, we better had brought something of substance.So now they know they're going to be developed.
This pleases me.
Can he recruit? You can't coach up speed and size!
Sounds like he has had success in that department. I think he'll have access to better talent at CAL than at his previous spots.
Hey Rugbear (and others in the know) -- what does the rumor mill say about potential portal QBs for Cal? I've seen the mention of Malachi Nelson by some analysts who have Cal in the mix for his services (Nelson was a five star QB from SoCal who was very briefly at USC before going to Boise and losing the QB competition there to a guy who still has two years of eligibility, so back in the portal he goes). Do you know if Cal is actually interested in Nelson or is Cal setting its sights on someone else? Nelson has three years left.
This move seems to clearly point to Harsin seeking out coaches that buy into his system. Not sure Bloesch & Gilbert fit the bill.
Any way Cefalo can get Hunter to reconsider?
Seems like a good hire. Can't predict that it will reflect in the results, though.
thought maybe he'd be related to Jimmy Cefalo, an ex wide receiver with the Miami Dolphins, but it looks like he's not.
Seems like a good hire? Now we need a QB, and hold on to Ott.
I'd rather hold on to "jet" Thomas more than Ott.
I know what you mean, but after the Mendoza jilting, Ott would be a large symbolic victory for fans and the program. It sends a very different message than the one Nando just sent to other guys looking at our program. Plus, Ott was hurt this year and Harsin's system should feature his talents well.
I know Ott didn’t do much this year, but he’s a gem. Would be great if we can keep them both
Great to see an off-season move that looks good all around. Young up and comer with success on the field and in recruiting. I don't think we could have expected better.
My guess is Harsin wants to be a HC again considering his successful run at Boise, so this could be our insurance policy considering Cefalo's OC experience. I'm not predicting that Cal figures things out offensively and Harsin gets a HC gig and Cefalo's ready to take his job, but Wilcox should be preparing as though success will happen even if that optimism isn't shared among many fans. This sort of happened with Spavital having success and moving on to what he felt was a better gig (I think it's clear he wants to be in TX and that's understandable), but Bloesch obviously didn't work out as the internal promotion who had mid-major OC experience. I'm willing to give Bloesch the benefit of the doubt should he return as OL coach, but also wouldn't mind fresh blood. We need some serious OL recruiting wins.
I want a new OL coach who will carry out Harsin’s vision 100% without any hesitation so that Harsin succeeds or fails on his own merits and can’t blame anyone else.
You have a point there, but Bloesch got good results when he could concentrate on OL instead of pulling double duty.
But did he? The year before his promotion, under spavital, we were air raid. So all he needed to do was pass pro. When we wanted to run this year (which I take is harder on linemen and requires more coordination and better technique), we faltered.
Were we air raid in 2023?
IHe should focus on next year and next year alone. If guys are in a position to move up elsewhere that's probably a sign that things went well. Otherwise there will be no future here for this group.
Nick Rolovich has been hired as a senior offensive assistant
A Novato native who starting coaching at City College of San Francisco. A bit tainted by covid vaccine refusal at Washington State that got him fired (and he still has a lawsuit against them), so in some ways Berkeley seems like a strange place for him to land.
can he teach WR's how to block in space?
I like his hire. I saw a word "offset" used in the main article. Every coaching change should strive to be an "improvement"
A huge upgrade from Burl. Roll on you Bears!
Nice. Reminds me a bit of what Madsen brought with him to the Cal Basketball program when he was hired from a smaller program. Potentially talent Cal might have missed out on.