Conference Pac-12 Conference 2011 record 7–6 (4–5 Pac-12) | Division North Division | |
Head coach Jeff Tedford (10th year) Offensive coordinator Jim Michalczik (2nd as oc; 8th Overall year) Defensive coordinator Clancy Pendergast (2nd year) | ||
The 2011 California Golden Bears football team represented the University of California, Berkeley in the 2011 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Led by tenth-year head coach Jeff Tedford, the Bears are members of the North Division of the Pac-12 Conference.
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Due to reconstruction at California Memorial Stadium, California played their home games in AT&T Park in San Francisco, California. The season opener against Fresno State, officially a neutral-site game, was played at Candlestick Park. The regular season also ended with an away game with a matchup at Arizona State on November 25.
Following the team's first losing season during Tedford's tenure as head coach, the Golden Bears improved to 7–5 (4–5 in the Pac-12) to finish fourth in the North Division. Cal also became bowl-eligible for the first time since 2009 and accepted a bid to play in the Holiday Bowl, which they lost to Texas. With a victory against Presbyterian College on September 17, Tedford became the winningest coach in program history.
Preseason
Following the program's first losing season during Jeff Tedford's tenure as head coach, several coaching changes were implemented. Offensive coordinator Andy Ludwig departed for the same position at San Diego State. He was replaced by Jim Michalczik, who will also be the offensive line coach due to the departure of Steve Marshall for Colorado. Michalczik had previously been the offensive line coach at Cal from 2002–2008. Wide receivers coach Kevin Daft was succeeded by Eric Kiesau, who will also function as the passing game coordinator, while defensive backs coach Al Simmons was succeeded by Ashley Ambrose, who held the same position at Colorado. Marcus Arroyo joined the coaching staff as quarterbacks coach and assistant head coach.
Starting running back Shane Vereen, who finished the 2010 season with 1,167 yards to become the program's first 1,000-yard rusher since the 2008 season, decided to forego a remaining season of eligibility and enter the NFL Draft, having graduated in December. He was drafted in the second round by the New England Patriots, following defensive end Cameron Jordan, who was drafted in the first round. Safety Chris Conte was selected in the third round by the Chicago Bears, and linebacker Mike Mohamed was picked in the sixth round by the Denver Broncos.
The team held its spring football from March 15 to April 24. Junior transfer Zach Maynard, the half brother of wide receiver Keenan Allen, was named the starting quarterback on May 14. Maynard had played at Buffalo from 2008–2009 before transferring to Cal in 2010.
Postseason
Defensive line coach Tosh Lupoi, who had been with the program for twelve years, and wide receivers coach Eric Kiesau, who had joined the program just that year, both left to join the Washington coaching staff in mid January 2012. Coach and former NFL wide receiver Wes Chandler succeeded Kiesau on January 18. Coach and former NFL linebacker Todd Howard was named as Lupoi's replacement after having fulfilled the same role at Washington State the previous season.
In the 2012 NFL Draft, six Cal players were selected, the most out of any Pac-12 school. Linebacker Mychal Kendricks and offensive tackle Mitchell Schwartz were taken in the second round, punter Bryan Anger in the third, receiver Marvin Jones in the fifth, and safety D. J. Campbell and defensive end Trevor Guyton in the seventh. Anger became the highest drafted punter since 1995.