Cal Football Retains Mike Saffell As Assistant Tight Ends Coach
Saffell will be part of a larger, compartmentalized Cal coaching staff.
The California Golden Bears announced some staff retentions in the past few weeks. One of the more notable returnees was Mike Saffell, who will remain a tight ends coach. He will join incoming current tight ends coach/run game coordinator Steve Ha’unga in an expanded Cal coaching staff.
The former Cal offensive lineman has already impressed in his several years on the job in Berkeley. After spending his four years as a Cal offensive lineman from 2017-20, mostly at center, he joined the coaching staff in 2021, became a gradaute assistant in 2022-23, then was elevated to tight ends coach in 2024.
On the job in two years, Saffell has helped develop Jack Endries (who transferred to Texas in 2025) into a future NFL tight end prospect, and has already returned impressive dividends on transfer Mason Mini, who has announced his return.
Below is a look at the full Cal coaching staff that we know as of now. The expanded staff looks like it’ll allow for compartmentalization, where certain coaches can be more recruiting-oriented, others can be more technical-oriented, and others can aim to be more strategic and big picture. Both Saffell and Ha’unga have shown proficiency on both fronts. But the emphasis by Tosh Lupoi remains young and hungry, which could be high risk, high reward.
Confirmed Cal coaching staff
Tosh Lupoi, head coach (Oregon defensive coordinator)
Jordan Somerville, offensive coordinator (Buccaneers assistant QB coach)
Nick Rolovich, quarterbacks coach (returning)
Jeff McDaniels, assistant quarterbacks (returning)
Keith Bhonapha, running backs coach (Michigan State RB/ST coach)
Pat McCann, pass game coordinator (Oregon State WR coach)
Ike Hilliard, wide receivers coach (long-time NFL WR coach)
Geoff McArthur, assistant wide receivers coach (Cal legend)
Steve Haunga, tight ends coach, run game coordinator (Oregon offensive analyst)
Mike Saffell, assistant tight ends (returning)
Famika Anae, offensive line coach (returning)
Viane Talamaivao, offensive tackles coach/RGC (Stanford assistant OL coach)
Michael Hutchings, defensive coordinator (Vikings safeties coach)
Da’Von Brown, defensive backs/co-DC (Western Kentucky, same roles)
Keith Heyward, defensive pass game coordinator (returning)
Darrion Daniels, defensive line coach (Oregon defensive analyst)
Ed McGilvra, assistant defensive line coach (Sacramento State defensive line)
Bryan Barraza, edges coach (Oregon staff)
Lorenzo Alexander, assistant edge coach (Cal football legend, runs linebacker training camps)
Ryan Berry, defensive assistant (Syracuse quality control)
Bob Gregory, inside linebackers coach (returning)
Sione Ta’ufo’ou, assistant inside linebackers (returning)
Connor Boyd, safeties coach (Oregon defensive analyst)
Duke DaRe, assistant defensive backs coach (Baylor quality control)
Zach Tinker, special teams coach (Oregon special teams analyst)
Jason Novak, head athletic performance coach (returning)
We're only allowed 10 recruiting-oriented coaches plus Tosh. I like being able to hire to a coach's unique strength instead of hoping they're good at everything.
Also looks like we're using a lot of assistant positions for Cal alums, which is great! Fans like seeing a familiar name in a less-blamable situation, and will expand our brand if they take promotions elsewhere and succeed.
I like what I’m seeing.