Bears Have Their Man - Oregon DC Tosh Lupoi Returns to Cal

The Bears will dip into their family tree to hire Oregon defensive coordinator Tosh Lupoi as their next head football coach after agreeing to contract terms today. 

A Walnut Creek native, Lupoi played at Cal from 2000 to 2005 and then moved from grad assistant to defensive line coach until 2011.

After Cal, the new head coach served at Washington, Alabama and Oregon, where’s been since 2022 as well as single seasons as DL coach in Cleveland, Atlanta and Jacksonville. Oregon finished the 2025 regular season ranked third nationally in total defense (251.6 YPG), passing defense (144.3 YPG) and passing yards allowed (1,732), while ranking eighth in scoring defense (14.8 PPG) and 20th in rushing defense (107.25 YPG). 

Lupoi was Cal general manager Ron Rivera’s first choice in his search and the former Bear enjoys tremendous support from former collegiate and NFL players, including Cameron Jordan, DeSean Jackson and many more.

The move is thought to be favorable in retaining talented frosh QB Jaron Keawe Sagapolutele‍ - a key element to Cal’s coaching search.

Lupoi will be announced at a 1:30 pm press conference at Memorial Stadium tomorrow. The press conference is not open to the public but it is open to Caliber members and major NIL donors. 

Stay tuned for more details to come.