Cal Reportedly Set to Hire Oakland Native as Running Backs Coach

Cal is set to hire Michigan State running backs coach Keith Bhonapha as the Golden Bears' running backs coach under new Cal head coach Tosh Lupoi. according to Adam Rittenberg of ESPN.

Bhonapha attended Skyline High School in Oakland and was a defensive back at the University of Hawaii, which is Cal's opponent for the December 24 Hawaii Bowl.

Source: Cal is set to hire Keith Bhonapha as running backs coach. Bhonapha grew up near Cal in Oakland and has coached RBs at Michigan State, Oregon State, Boise State and Washington. pic.twitter.com/DhscG6phO6
— Adam Rittenberg (@ESPNRittenberg) December 18, 2025

Following his playing career at Hawaii, Bhonapha was a graduate assistant at Hawaii under head coach June Jones.

Bhonapha was later the director of football operations at Boise State, and was named Broncos' running backs coach in 2009 under Chris Petersen. He was also named Boise State's recruiting coordinator in 2011.

When Petersen was hired as the head coach at Washington, Bhonapha went along and was named the Huskies running backs coach and recruiting coordinator in 2014. He was at Washington through the 2021 season.

He was named ssociate head coach and running backs coach at Boise State in 2022, and was assistant head coach and running backs coach at Oregon State in 2023 under head coach Jonathan Smith.

Bhonapha was hired at Michigan State in December 2023, following Smith when he was named the Spartans' head coach. This was a his second season as the Spartans running backs coach. He is also Michigan State's co-special teams coordinator.

Cal ranks last in FBS in rushing yards per game at 76.5, despite the efforts of junior running back Kendrick Raphael, who has 853 rushing yards and has scored 13 touchdowns.

The Michigan State football website has this statement about Bhonapha from Spartans head coach Jonathan Smith, who has since been fired:

"Keith Bhonapha is an experienced, proven coach who has been a part of championship teams and has developed some very productive running backs that have gone on to the NFL," said MSU head coach Jonathan Smith. "I have been on three different coaching staffs with Keith and I am very impressed with his football knowledge and expertise. He fully understands what we're trying to accomplish on the offensive side of the ball, and also has extensive experience coaching special teams."

Cal's team is scheduled to leave for Hawaii on Friday to prepare for the Hawaii Bowl. The Bears (7-5) will face Hawaii (8-4) on the Rainbow Warriors' home field.

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