Cal Sports Report

Report: Cal's Justin Wilcox Interviews for Oregon Coaching Vacancy

This indicates that the Cal coach has an interest in the Oregon job
Jake Curtis|
Report: Cal's Justin Wilcox Interviews for Oregon Coaching Vacancy
Report: Cal's Justin Wilcox Interviews for Oregon Coaching Vacancy

Cal coach Justin Wilcox interviewed Thursday for the vacant Oregon head coaching job, according to John Canzano, a columnist at the Oregonian.

"Wilcox interviewed today," Canzano wrote.

This indicates Oregon has interest in Wilcox, and also shows that Wilcox has interest in the Oregon vacancy.

Here is what Canzano said in the Oregonian about the Wilcox interview:

---Oregon interviewed Cal coach Justin Wilcox on Thursday, per a source. The interview went well in the eyes of UO contingent, I’m told. Wilcox was born in Eugene, played his high school ball at Junction City High and then played at Oregon. If the Ducks are dead-set on getting back to their local roots, he’s the hire isn’t he? I think Wilcox is a hell of a coach who has done OK amid unfavorable circumstances in Berkeley. Still, I wonder if Mullens is interviewing Wilcox because he covets him or rather because he wants to please the boosters who support a return to a local candidate.---

Report that Georgia defensive coordinator Dan Lanning was hired as Oregon's head coach apparently is inaccurate:

The Ducks -- looking to replace Mario Cristobal, who returned to his alma mater of Miami -- also have requested permission to interview UCLA's Chip Kelly, who enjoyed great success in four seasons at Oregon.

*** Here is the Oregonian's story summing up what has happened so far.

It's not yet known how UCLA responded to that request or if Kelly, in his fourth season with the Bruins, has interest in returning to Eugene, where he was 46-7 from 2009-12 with two Rose Bowl appearances and a spot in the 2010 BCS championship game.o be the Ducks head coach.

Several reports indicate Oregon is making a "hard push" to bring Kelly back to Eugene to be the Ducks' head coach again.

Oregon's decision on a new coach could come soon:

Wilcox has never coached at Oregon, but he played for the Ducks after growing up in nearby Junction City.

Kyle Bonagura, college football writer for ESPN, wrote in a tweet, "Can add that several former Oregon coaches and players have voiced support for Wilcox."

Earlier, Canzano reported Oregon had requested permission to interview Wilcox.

This could also mean that Cal might have to offer Wilcox a revised contract extension to stay in Berkeley. Wilcox was scheduled to make $3,344,996 in 2021, which ranks as the seventh-highest salary in the Pac-12 and 43rd-highest in the country. 

Cristobal, who left Oregon to take the Miami (Fla.) job this week, earned about $4.4 million this season, but reports this week suggest Oregon might be willing to up its financial offer significantly with its next hire.

Oregon has already spoken with BYU head coach Kalani Sitake about the Ducks' opening.

But the issue for Cal fans is Wilcox. The Bears' record is under .500 (26-28) in Wilcox's five seasons as Cal's head coach, and that includes 1-3 last season and 5-7 this season. However, the restrictions imposed by local entities during the pandemic are seen as reasons for the Bears' problems.

Wilcox has become known as a strong defensive coach and he has strong ties to Oregon. 

Wilcox's name has been mentioned prominently in reports speculating on possible candidates for the Oregon vacancy.

One Oregonian journalist announced via twitter this week that Wilcox would be his choice.

This is an odd time for Wilcox since he is recruiting in an attempt to get commitments to Cal before next Wednesday's signing day.

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Jake Curtis
JAKE CURTIS

Jake Curtis worked in the San Francisco Chronicle sports department for 27 years, covering virtually every sport, including numerous Final Fours, several college football national championship games, an NBA Finals, world championship boxing matches and a World Cup. He was a Cal beat writer for many of those years, and won awards for his feature stories.

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