EUGENE — Oregon defensive coordinator Tosh Lupoi is returning to California to become its next head football coach.
Oregon’s defensive coordinator for the past four seasons, Lupoi was hired as head coach at his alma mater, according to multiple reports.
The Athletic first reported the finalized deal for Lupoi, who joins Will Stein, who was hired as the head coach at Kentucky on Monday, as outgoing members of Dan Lanning’s staff. Both are staying at UO to call plays throughout its College Football Playoff run, Lanning said.
Oregon’s defense ranks third nationally in total defense and pass defense, eighth in scoring and 20th against the run this season under Lupoi, who is a two-time semifinalist for the Broyles Award as the nation’s top assistant.
Lupoi is earning $2 million this season at Oregon and his buyout to leave is waived because he’s becoming an FBS head coach.
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A Cal alum from Walnut Creek, California, Lupoi played defensive line at Cal from 2001-05 and served as defensive line coach in Berkeley from 2008-11. He also worked at Washington and spent five seasons at Alabama, including as defensive coordinator in 2018, then spent three seasons in the NFL as defensive line coach for the Cleveland Browns, Atlanta Falcons and Jacksonville Jaguars, before coming to Oregon.
