Justin Wilcox (American football)

His tenure at Cal was notable for a consistent focus on building a strong defensive program. Over nine seasons, he became one of the longer-serving coaches in the competitive Pac-12 conference, making his leadership a defining period for the team during the late 2010s and early 2020s.

Wilcox has recently been in the news following his dismissal from the head coach position. Multiple sports media outlets reported on November 24, 2025, that the university parted ways with him a day after the team's loss to rival Stanford in the annual Big Game. The reports generally cited the defeat as a pivotal event concluding his nine-season leadership of the program.