Not my first choice, in fact I never wanted him but now that he's here and has the job I've got his back and will root him and the Bears on with full gusto. Go Bears!!!
"I'm deeply grateful for the opportunity to come home," Lupoi said. "Cal is a special place that shaped me, and it's an incredible honor to return to Berkeley and lead this football program. I'm energized by the challenge ahead and excited to unite our players, alumni, and supporters. We will build a tough, disciplined, and relentlessly competitive team that represents Cal with pride, while always committing to academic excellence. I can't wait to get to work and compete every single day for this program and this community. It's time!"
Ron Rivera:
"We couldn't be more thrilled to welcome Tosh and his family back home to Berkeley as our head football coach," Rivera said. "Tosh is a true Golden Bear, and he understands and embraces the challenges and privileges of being a Cal student-athlete. His strong character, tireless work ethic, coaching acumen and recruiting talents all make him the perfect fit to lead us into the next great chapter of Cal football."
Chancellor Lyons:
"After extensive conversations with Tosh, and consultation with many other people, I'm convinced he has the skillset, experience and personal qualities needed to build a best-in-class football program at UC Berkeley - one that operates in a manner consistent with our university's values and unwavering commitment to excellence," UC Berkeley Chancellor Rich Lyons said. "Tosh knows firsthand, and embraces the importance of, our culture that supports outstanding experiences for our student-athletes in the classroom, in competition and in our community. I look forward to partnering with Ron and Tosh as they and the team chart a new course and this new future for Cal football."
The whole lead-up to this thing has been a master class in getting a fanbase to focus on future excitement over past grievances. I will be eagerly cheering on the Lupoi era, and I’ll be donating.
Now my final thing I want to see is for the band to be better integrated into the game day experience. Then (along with wins), all will be well.
The challenge will be to keep Coach Lupoi staying at Cal as he has success (2011). Of course that would also be true of any HC hire. One can only explain "Go Bears!" as we enter into this next chapter of Cal Football.
Lyons has to be on that boat! Does any of this happen without him? We’d probably be sitting here with that clown knowlton selling us on the potential merits of joining the mountain west.
But hell, it’s an entirely new college football world, and what you’re getting with him now is big time financial backing from folks that were not giving nearly as generously to Wilcox for no shortage of reasons.
Also well said. I really like Coach Wilcox as he displayed integrity. Getting to 6-6 or 7-5 as the best possible regular season record I didn't like so much. For sure Coach Lupoi seems to have a clear handle on how to succeed in 2025ff.
I have felt for awhile that there was an era when Justin Wilcox would’ve been the perfect HC for Cal and could‘ve been here 15 years…that time was back in the ‘90’s, before the portal, before NIL.
He just was not the right HC for this era…combine him with incompetent ADs like Mike Williams and Jim Knowlton, plus athletically-disinterested Chancellors such as Dirks and Christ, and it was just a recipe for disaster.
That has been so thoroughly vetted this past week it would have been pointless and small to include. Everybody deserves a chance at a fresh start. Each one of us, in fact.
I hope at the news conference Rivera reiterates he expects nothing less than 8 wins minimum and a major bowl game. And when they wonder why he looks at them incredulously and says "Because we are the University of California!"
8 wins next year would be huge, our schedule is potentially brutal.
Games I'm worried about:
@BYU,
@UNLV: playing in the MW championship game tomorrow and most likely retaining their HC
vs Clemson
vs Virginia Tech seems like James Franklin is just taking Penn State with him to VT
@Virginia: if they get Morris another year of eligibility (get a job old man)
@SMU: talented, well coached, will not be overlooking us again after last week
And even then, the more winnable games on our schedule aren't pushovers, @Syracuse and @NC State could be scary if those teams rebound, Jake Dickert did pretty well with a not very talented Wake Forest this year and UCLA might not be hot garbage with a new coach.
I'mserious that we have to take the Indiana route. San Jose and Nevada every year, sprinkled with local UC Davis and a Sac State thrown in. No traveling east of Nevada (I don't want tohear about how Reno is west of LA etc)
I have a feeling he’s going to kill it with portal recruiting…I’m thinking former 4-5 stars he was on whilst at Oregon who went to other blue bloods and are now looking to transfer for any number of reasons.
He's already sending out offers to 2027 HS recruits [via Marshall & staff]; 2026 portal offers are almost assuredly on their way as soon as the portal opens later this month.
.9715 recruit we haven't had anyone that high since the Tedford era. If that's the way Cal is going to start rolling again, then watch out! The Bear might finally be coming out of hibernation!
"New Cal head coach Tosh Lupoi hasn't even been announced yet but he's already recruiting as the Bears send an offer out to top-100 2027 EDGE Rashad Streets"
Not my first choice, in fact I never wanted him but now that he's here and has the job I've got his back and will root him and the Bears on with full gusto. Go Bears!!!
Official announcement tweet from Cal Football:
https://x.com/CalFootball/status/1996798563628851711
Full press release from Cal Athletics:
https://calbears.com/news/2025/12/4/tosh-lupoi-named-travers-family-head-football-coach.aspx
Statement from Tosh:
"I'm deeply grateful for the opportunity to come home," Lupoi said. "Cal is a special place that shaped me, and it's an incredible honor to return to Berkeley and lead this football program. I'm energized by the challenge ahead and excited to unite our players, alumni, and supporters. We will build a tough, disciplined, and relentlessly competitive team that represents Cal with pride, while always committing to academic excellence. I can't wait to get to work and compete every single day for this program and this community. It's time!"
Ron Rivera:
"We couldn't be more thrilled to welcome Tosh and his family back home to Berkeley as our head football coach," Rivera said. "Tosh is a true Golden Bear, and he understands and embraces the challenges and privileges of being a Cal student-athlete. His strong character, tireless work ethic, coaching acumen and recruiting talents all make him the perfect fit to lead us into the next great chapter of Cal football."
Chancellor Lyons:
"After extensive conversations with Tosh, and consultation with many other people, I'm convinced he has the skillset, experience and personal qualities needed to build a best-in-class football program at UC Berkeley - one that operates in a manner consistent with our university's values and unwavering commitment to excellence," UC Berkeley Chancellor Rich Lyons said. "Tosh knows firsthand, and embraces the importance of, our culture that supports outstanding experiences for our student-athletes in the classroom, in competition and in our community. I look forward to partnering with Ron and Tosh as they and the team chart a new course and this new future for Cal football."
RR’s email just hit the inbox. It’s officially official. Go Bears! 🐻
The whole lead-up to this thing has been a master class in getting a fanbase to focus on future excitement over past grievances. I will be eagerly cheering on the Lupoi era, and I’ll be donating.
Now my final thing I want to see is for the band to be better integrated into the game day experience. Then (along with wins), all will be well.
Nothing to add except, GO BEARS FOREVER!!!!!
"It's about the Jimmys and the Joes, not the Xs and Os"
The challenge will be to keep Coach Lupoi staying at Cal as he has success (2011). Of course that would also be true of any HC hire. One can only explain "Go Bears!" as we enter into this next chapter of Cal Football.
I’ll take the worry about having to keep a successful coach over the worry that we hang on to a mediocre one for too long.
This is the part where we get half of Oregon's recruiting class, right?
We need to update the Tosh boat gif and replace Sark and Wilcox with RR and maybe Rolo on a boat
Lyons has to be on that boat! Does any of this happen without him? We’d probably be sitting here with that clown knowlton selling us on the potential merits of joining the mountain west.
Given the way he "left" Cal in 2011, he would not have been my choice, but in Ron Rivera I trust.
Well said. My exact concern and trust in RR also.
I hear ya.
But hell, it’s an entirely new college football world, and what you’re getting with him now is big time financial backing from folks that were not giving nearly as generously to Wilcox for no shortage of reasons.
Also well said. I really like Coach Wilcox as he displayed integrity. Getting to 6-6 or 7-5 as the best possible regular season record I didn't like so much. For sure Coach Lupoi seems to have a clear handle on how to succeed in 2025ff.
I have felt for awhile that there was an era when Justin Wilcox would’ve been the perfect HC for Cal and could‘ve been here 15 years…that time was back in the ‘90’s, before the portal, before NIL.
He just was not the right HC for this era…combine him with incompetent ADs like Mike Williams and Jim Knowlton, plus athletically-disinterested Chancellors such as Dirks and Christ, and it was just a recipe for disaster.
Great hire. Also love the diplomatic failure to mention what he did before going to Washington.
That has been so thoroughly vetted this past week it would have been pointless and small to include. Everybody deserves a chance at a fresh start. Each one of us, in fact.
That item on his resume seems to have disappeared . . . .
holy jumbaco Batman it actually happened
I hope at the news conference Rivera reiterates he expects nothing less than 8 wins minimum and a major bowl game. And when they wonder why he looks at them incredulously and says "Because we are the University of California!"
Heck, he's already said it to the team while announcing the Hawaii Bowl berth:
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DR2nbITksgQ/
Says they're not just going to have a good time, they need to win and get to 8 for the season. That's what I like to hear!
He’s been saying at various functions the need for Cal to start stacking 8 and 9 win regular seasons.
That gets fans and donors motivated which fills CMS: it leads to better bowls and more $$$.
8 wins needs to be the floor.
I'd give him a one year build, 7 is ok. we made 6 with the guys we got this year. The schedule will be tougher, but we don't want to go backwards.
We made 7 this year!
8 wins next year would be huge, our schedule is potentially brutal.
Games I'm worried about:
@BYU,
@UNLV: playing in the MW championship game tomorrow and most likely retaining their HC
vs Clemson
vs Virginia Tech seems like James Franklin is just taking Penn State with him to VT
@Virginia: if they get Morris another year of eligibility (get a job old man)
@SMU: talented, well coached, will not be overlooking us again after last week
And even then, the more winnable games on our schedule aren't pushovers, @Syracuse and @NC State could be scary if those teams rebound, Jake Dickert did pretty well with a not very talented Wake Forest this year and UCLA might not be hot garbage with a new coach.
I’d look to get out of the UNLV game. Those contracts were signed before the P12 exploded….zero reason to play that now.
I'mserious that we have to take the Indiana route. San Jose and Nevada every year, sprinkled with local UC Davis and a Sac State thrown in. No traveling east of Nevada (I don't want tohear about how Reno is west of LA etc)
💯
Need wins.
I have a feeling he’s going to kill it with portal recruiting…I’m thinking former 4-5 stars he was on whilst at Oregon who went to other blue bloods and are now looking to transfer for any number of reasons.
He’s going to need to. No room for a rebuilding year with JKS. Hoping Santa leaves a deep threat under the tree this year.
He's already sending out offers to 2027 HS recruits [via Marshall & staff]; 2026 portal offers are almost assuredly on their way as soon as the portal opens later this month.
Tosh is already recruiting for us!
https://x.com/Rashad_Streets/status/1996735205600907400?t=WK_fl3AC4Pd1Ct336XxF1Q&s=19
.9715 recruit we haven't had anyone that high since the Tedford era. If that's the way Cal is going to start rolling again, then watch out! The Bear might finally be coming out of hibernation!
"New Cal head coach Tosh Lupoi hasn't even been announced yet but he's already recruiting as the Bears send an offer out to top-100 2027 EDGE Rashad Streets"
https://x.com/CalBearsOn3/status/1996736265178497034
Some things never change lol
hits different when he's unequivocally on our side
boat jokes aside, 110% certain he and Lanning discussed recruiting particulars in private - thus zero chance of Toshgate 2.0 this time
Yeah, notice this is a 2027 recruit
I hope he can buy a good team.