By Michael GallagherShareNewsweek is a Trust Project memberWith just one week left in the regular season, there are several college football teams still looking for a new head coach.
Another program joined that list on Sunday after On3 reported that the California Golden Bears fired longtime head coach Justin Wilcox one day after the team’s 31-10 loss to Stanford, which dropped its record to 6-5.
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Cal will owe Wilcox a $10.9 million buyout, per ESPN’s Pete Thamel, who also reported that senior offensive analyst Nick Rolovich, a former Washington State coach, will take over as interim coach for the team’s matchup against SMU on Nov. 29.
Wilcox had been at Cal since 2017. He compiled a 48-55 record in nine seasons with four bowl appearances (but just one win), and he's the sixth-winningest coach in school history.
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"I want to thank Justin for all of his contributions to our football program, our athletic department and our university," Cal general manager Ron Rivera said in a statement. "He has always comported himself with class and professionalism. After careful consideration, we believe the time has come for new leadership. We wish Justin the best of luck in his future endeavors."
The 49-year-old Wilcox never won more than eight games in any season, and he logged just two winning seasons (three if you count his 6-5 record this year). Wilcox was hired as a first-time head coach to take over after Sonny Dykes’ unsuccessful three-year stint (he went 19-30).
Wilcox is the fifth Cal coach since 1992 to end his tenure with a losing record. The lone exception was Jeff Tedford, who won 82 of his 139 games with five bowl wins from 2002 to 2012.
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