Former Oregon State defensive coordinator Keith Heyward has been hired as Cal's secondary coach, the program announced Thursday night. It will be his second stint in Berkeley.
Heyward joined the Beavers in 2024 but stepped down in January. Prior to that he spent two seasons in Las Vegas -- one as UNLV's defensive backs and cornerbacks coach, and one as a quality control coach for the Raiders.
Thursday's move marks Heyward's return to Cal, having spent 2021 as the Golden Bears' outside linebackers coach. Cal finished fourth in the Pac-12 in total defense and sacks, and Heyward helped Cameron Goode develop into a draft pick that spring.
An Oregon State grad, Heyward has coached previously at Oregon, Louisville, USC, Washington, and Cal Poly.
Additionally, Cal has promoted secondary coach Terrence Brown and outside linebackers coach Vic So'oto to co-defensive coordinators while also promoting defensive line coach Andrew Browning to run game coordinator and bringing back Bob Gregory as a senior defensive assistant.
Gregory spent 2002-09 as the defensive coordinator on Jeff Tedford's defensive coordinator in Berkeley, and then spent 2010-19 coaching linebackers under Chris Petersen at Boise State and Washington. Gregory is a FootballScoop Linebackers Coach of the Year winner.
Heading into his ninth season at Cal, head coach Justin Wilcox has added plenty of firepower to his staff this offseason -- former Boise State and Auburn head coach Bryan Harsin is now the offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach, FootballScoop Offensive Line Coach of the Year finalist Famika Anae has joined the staff in that capacity, UTSA's Julian Griffin has come aboard as running backs coach, and former Hawaii and Washington State head coach Nick Rolovich as a senior offensive assistant.