Wisconsin defensive coordinator Justin Wilcox is in negotiations to become the head coach at Cal, multiple outlets (Ryan Gorcey, Bruce Feldman, ESPN & local reports) reported Thursday night.
Wilcox spent but one season in Madison, helping the Badgers finish fourth nationally in scoring on their way to an 11-3 season that concluded with a Cotton Bowl victory over Western Michigan, and is now set to return to his native West Coast.
A Eugene, Ore., native, Wilcox played defensive back at Oregon in the late 1990's before jumping into coaching as a graduate assistant at Boise State. His first full-time job came as linebackers coach at Cal from 2003-05, before becoming defensive coordinator at Boise State, Tennessee, Washington, USC and Wisconsin. Aside from his two seasons in Knoxville and his one season at Wisconsin, Wilcox has spent his entire adult life in Pac-12 country.
California would be Wilcox's first head coaching job, and he'd have his work cut out for him. The Golden Bears have booked one winning campaign in the past five years and play in one of the most competitive divisions in college football. There is a lot to sell in Berkeley, of course, with one of the best public educations in higher education surrounded by one of the best places to live in America.
As always, stay tuned to The Scoop for the latest.