Cal Football Officially Hires Coach Keith Heyward

The Former Assistant Head Coach/Co-Defensive Coordinator/Safeties to coach OLBs for Cal

Cal Football @CalFootball

Welcome to the squad, @CoachHeyward!

Source: Cal Athletics

After a couple of weeks of rumors and leaks, Cal Athletics has made it official that it will hire the former Assistant Head Coach, Co-Defensive Coordinator, Safeties coach for the OLB coach position. It looks to be a reduction of responsibilities for Coach Heyward as he will only focus on OLBs for Cal (Cam Goode, Tevin Paul, Braxten Croteaux, et al.) The last time he coached LBs in any capacity was in 2007 as Cal Poly’s LB coach, in all of his Power-5 spots he has been primarily a DB coach.

With him, he brings a pedigree as a recruiter (primary for both 5* Keyvon Thibodeaux and 5* JuJu Smith-Schuster).

Welcome to Berkeley Coach Heyward!

Per CalBears:

Keith Heyward Coaching History
Season: Team – Coaching Position (Postseason)
2005: Oregon State – Graduate Assistant, Defensive Line
2006: Oregon State – Graduate Assistant, Cornerbacks (Sun Bowl)
2007: Cal Poly – Linebackers
2008: Oregon State – Defensive Backs (Sun Bowl)
2009: Oregon State – Defensive Backs (Las Vegas Bowl)
2010: Oregon State – Defensive Backs
2011: Oregon State – Defensive Backs
2012: Washington – Defensive Backs (Las Vegas Bowl)
2013: Washington – Defensive Backs (Fight Hunger Bowl)
2014: USC – Passing Game Coordinator/Defensive Backs (Holiday Bowl)
2015: USC – Passing Game Coordinator/Defensive Backs (Pac-12 South Division Champion, Holiday Bowl)
2016: Louisville – Defensive Backs (Citrus Bowl)
2017: Oregon – Safeties (Las Vegas Bowl)
2018: Oregon – Co-Defensive Coordinator/Safeties (Redbox Bowl)
2019: Oregon – Assistant Head Coach/Co-Defensive Coordinator/Safeties (Pac-12 Champion, Pac-12 North Division Champion, Rose Bowl)
2020: Oregon – Assistant Head Coach/Co-Defensive Coordinator/Safeties (Pac-12 Champion, Fiesta Bowl)