Where Did the Cal Football 2025 Coaching Staff End Up?
The transfer portal was moving for coaches.
Several Cal assistants were retained on Tosh Lupoi’s inaugural staff in Berkeley.
Nick Rolovich was elevated from offensive analyst to quarterbacks coach/assistant head coach. Rolovich served as the interim head coach for the final two games. His connection with Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele is well-documented, and his roots with Hawaii and Polynesian recruits will be valuable in the years to come.
Famika Anae remains offensive line coach. He did his best with a patchwork offensive line in 2025, bringing in some solid transfers and recruiting heavily in the portal and in the high school ranks to give the Bears a much needed influx of new talent. He also gets help from Viane Talamaivao.
Mike Saffell remains a tight ends coach (assistant) as he will collaborate with new tight end coach Steve Haunga. Saffell has drawn significant raves for his development of tight ends Mason Mini and Jack Endries in his first years on the job.
Bob Gregory, former Cal defensive coordinator in his second stint in Berkeley, was elevated from defensive assistant to inside linebackers coach.
Keith Heyward was brought in to assist with defensive backs. This year, he will be elevated to the defensive pass game coordinator.
Sione Ta’ufo’ou will move from assisting defensive line and outside linebackers, to the inside linebacking responsibility role with Bob Gregory.
Jason Novak was retained as Cal’s strength and conditioning coach. He will have a good chance to prove he’s the long-term person to devleop the Bears this offseason.
The rest of the Cal staff had to find new homes. Two found positions at new Power 4 schools.
Former wide receiver coach Kyle Cefalo is now the Southern Miss offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. Cefalo helped develop Jacob de Jesus into a first-team all-ACC player, and will now get a chance to lead his own offense in the Sun Belt.
Former running backs coach Julian Griffin is now the East Carolina running backs coach. Griffin did his best coaxing solid performances out of Kendrick Raphael, but the rest of the room managed minimal contributions. Griffin will restart on the East Coast in the American Conference.
Former defensive line coach Andrew Browning is the new Washington State defensive line coach. Browning has been part of Cal’s staff since 2018 and produced yeoman results in run defense nearly every season, and will get a new start closer to his Pacific Northwest roots at the Palouse.
Former co-defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach Terrence Brown is up at Boise State, taking on the equivalent responsibilities he had last year in Berkeley. Brown assisted in the development of multiple Cal defensive backs who are now in the NFL, like Craig Woodson, Elijah Hicks and Daniel Scott.
Former co-defensive coordinator and outside linebackers coach Vic So’oto finished up four years in Berkeley, mostly coaching the edges, but also getting special teams and then DC responsiblities last year. UCLA is his next destination as linebackers coach, so Cal will get a look at where he’s at in the season opener.
Former linebacker coach Mike Bruno will get an opportunity at the FCS level as the new Presbyterian defensive coordinator. Bruno helped develop Luke Ferrelli into an All-ACC Freshman.
Former defensive back coach Allen Brown is off to the SEC as the new Kentucky cornerbacks coach under Lupoi’s Will Stein. Brown helped develop Hezekiah Masses into one of the best ballhawks in college football last season.
Former offensive coordinator Bryan Harsin has not found a new position.
As for Justin Wilcox, we’d imagine he’ll take the year to regroup.
Hats off to all of our Golden Bear coaches past and present. It's a very tough career choice that is especially hard on families. The rewards can be great but there are often many lows to go along with the highs.