UC Berkeley hires Justin Wilcox as new head coach

Defensive coordinator for the University of Wisconsin football team has been chosen as the University of California at Berkeley’s new head football coach, UC Berkeley athletic officials have announced.

Justin Wilcox this year helped to lead the Wisconsin Badgers to a Cotton Bowl victory against the previously undefeated Western Michigan Broncos. Wilcox served as the Badgers’ defensive coordinator and inside linebackers’ coach.

Wilcox has served as a defensive coordinator for the past 11 seasons with different teams.

He started in the position at Boise State University in 2006 and also held the job at the University of Tennessee, the University of Washington and the University of Southern California, according to UC Berkeley officials.

Wilcox also coached at UC Berkeley in 2003, 2004 and 2005 as the football team’s linebackers’ coach, university officials said.

During his tenure, the team won 26 games and lost 12. The team went to three bowl games.

Director of athletics Mike Williams said in a statement: “Cal Athletics is about high academics, it’s about a comprehensive student-athlete experience, and it’s about winning championships…We have found a coach in Justin Wilcox who embodies all of those principles.”

A week ago, Williams announced the firing of head football coach Sonny Dykes who won 19 games and lost 30 in four seasons with the team.

Bay City News

Bay City News is a 24/7 news service covering the greater Bay Area. © 2022 Bay City News, Inc. All rights reserved. Republication, rebroadcast or redistribution without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited.