The University of California is going through a major leadership change, which is reshaping the future of Golden Bears football. With longtime athletic director Jim Knowlton announcing his retirement, the university is restructuring its chain of command.
The biggest move is that head coach Justin Wilcox will now report directly to newly appointed general manager Ron Rivera. This dramatic power shift reflects growing donor pressure and a push toward an NFL-style model of football operations.
Head Coach Justin Wilcox to Report to GM Ron Rivera After Cal AD’s Retirement Shake-Up
Knowlton, who had served as the athletic director at Cal since 2018, officially announced his retirement on June 16. His departure comes after seven years of leading Cal Athletics through some of the most turbulent times in college sports. As director, he witnessed the COVID-19 pandemic, the rise of NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness), and the collapse of the Pac-12 Conference, which led Cal to join the ACC.
During his tenure, Cal won 10 national championships, sent over 100 athletes to the Summer Olympics, and improved its graduation success rate to a record 93%. Now that he is gone, the board requires adjustments. So, Cal Chancellor Rich Lyons appointed Jay Larson and Jenny Simon-O’Neill as interim co-directors of athletics.
This new model will give the football general manager, Rivera, more authority. For example, the head coach, Wilcox, will report directly to him rather than to the athletic director. Now, the catch is that this restructuring didn’t come along with an official board decision.
Pete Thamel recently posted a report on X, noting, “Source: Going forward, Cal football coach Justin Wilcox will report to football general manager Ron Rivera.”
Reports suggest it was influenced by pressure from major donors who had grown frustrated with the program’s direction, particularly regarding the NIL strategy and football oversight.
Source: Going forward, Cal football coach Justin Wilcox will report to football general manager Ron Rivera.
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) June 16, 2025
Rivera, who played linebacker at Cal from 1980 to 1983, was hired earlier this year to bring a more professional approach to the football program. However, it seems like this authority restructuring may create more pressure for the current head coach, Wilcox, who is entering his ninth season at Cal.
He holds a 42–50 record, with the program reaching bowl eligibility in each of the last two seasons but failing to post a winning record since 2019. Now that Rivera is in charge of football operations, his past coaching experience could influence Wilcox’s performance in the upcoming ACC season, hopefully in a positive way.
