The University of California, Berkeley has reached an agreement with Wisconsin's defensive coordinator Justin Wilcox to be the team's next head football coach, according to a national report.
Wilcox, 40, was a linebackers coach at Cal from 2003 to 2005. He has been a defensive coordinator for the past 11 seasons while serving at Wisconsin (2016), USC (2014-15), Washington (2012-13), Tennessee(2010-11) and Boise State (2006-09).
During Cal's 5-7 2016 season, the defense was a clear low-point on the team. Cal allowed the second-most points per game (42.6) in the nation for the FBS and tied for the third-most yards allowed per game (518).
In comparison, Wisconsin, who finished 11-3 and won the Big Ten-West, was the opposite of Cal on the defensive side of the ball last season. Wisconsin's 15.5 points per game were the fourth-fewest in the FBS and the Badgers finished with the seventh-fewest yards allowed per game, at 303.
This would be Wilcox's first job as a head coach. He would replace Sonny Dykes, who served as the team's head coach the last four seasons.
Wilcox is reportedly signing a five-year deal with Cal.
Brett McMurphy of ESPN was first to report the news of Wilcox agreeing to a deal with Cal.
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With the hiring of Wilcox, interim head coach Jake Spavital will not stay in Berkeley. Spavital, who spent the 2016-17 season as Cal's quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator, is reportedly headed to West Virginia as the Mountaineers' new offensive coordinator, according to Bruce Feldman of Fox Sports. The 31-year-old was West Virginia's quarterbacks coach for the 2011 and 2012 seasons.
