California Golden Bears head coach Tosh Lupoi has made a significant early addition to his coaching staff, naming a former Oregon Ducks assistant as his offensive coordinator in a move aimed at jump-starting the program’s offense ahead of the 2026 season. This marks one of the first major staff decisions of Lupoi’s tenure as the Bears’ head football coach.
Lupoi, who was officially introduced as Cal’s head coach in early December after a highly successful stint as defensive coordinator at Oregon, wasted little time assembling his staff. The hire brings a Ducks offensive mind to Berkeley, continuing the broader ripple effect of coaching movement stemming from Oregon’s deep run and staff turnover this offseason.
The new offensive coordinator, Will Stein, previously served as Oregon’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, helping guide one of the nation’s most dynamic offenses during his time with the Ducks. Stein’s work in Eugene, particularly his play-calling and quarterback development, drew attention from a number of programs during this coaching cycle. In fact, Kentucky recently announced Stein as its next head coach — leaving his offensive coordinator post at Oregon, and creating the opportunity for Lupoi to bring him into his Cal staff.
Stein’s résumé includes a rapid ascent through the coaching ranks. Before his time with Oregon, he was co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at UTSA and had various offensive roles at Louisville. During his tenure at Oregon, Stein helped maintain explosive offensive production even while transitioning between key personnel, which experts say underscores his adaptability and scheme savvy.
For Cal, bringing in a coach with recent Power Five experience — especially one familiar with the Ducks’ offensive system — signals a clear desire to modernize and elevate the Golden Bears’ offensive identity. After several seasons of inconsistency on that side of the ball under the previous coaching regime, Lupoi has made it a priority to surround himself with experienced and innovative offensive minds.
Lupoi’s own path to the Cal head coaching job is a full-circle story: a Bay Area native and former Cal defensive lineman, he returns to his alma mater after coaching stops across the college and NFL ranks. At Oregon, he was widely credited with building one of the nation’s top defenses and helped lead the Ducks to another successful season in 2025.
Offensive coordinator hires will be a key early test for Lupoi’s leadership, as expectations in Berkeley are rising following both staff turnover nationwide and Cal’s desire to compete more consistently in the Pac-12 and beyond. Stein’s appointment is likely just the start of a broader staff rebuild that Lupoi hopes will usher in a new era of success for the Golden Bears.