When I was researching Cal Football ahead of Virginia’s game out in Berkeley last month, it struck me that Justin Wilcox had made it nine years out there with a sub-.500 record.
He won’t get to Year 10.
Ron Rivera, the GM of the Cal Football program, announced Sunday that the program has “parted ways” with Wilcox ahead of the team’s season finale with ACC Championship Game contender SMU.
“I want to thank Justin for all of his contributions to our football program, our athletic department and our university,” Rivera said. “He has always comported himself with class and professionalism. After careful consideration, we believe the time has come for new leadership. We wish Justin the best of luck in his future endeavors.”
Future endeavored.
Wilcox was 48-55 in his run at Cal, his best record coming in 2019, with an 8-5 finish.
His 2023 and 2024 teams each finished 6-7 after bowl-game losses.
Cal is 6-5 this season heading into the regular-season finale with SMU.
Odd twist here, for a school with a progressive liberal reputation: the guy who will be the head coach for the finale, and presumably the bowl season, is Nick Rolovich, whose name you’re familiar with because Washington State fired him in 2021 over his failure to comply with the school’s COVID policies.
The guy then went and sued the school over his dismissal; he lost the case.
Politics isn’t the only place where you can find strange bedfellows.
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Chris Graham
