Cal Officially Hires Sterlin Gilbert as Quarterbacks Coach

Gilbert will also be the Bears' passing-game coordinator after being the offensive coordinator at several colleges, including Texas

Cal on Tuesday officially named Mississippi senior offensive analyst Sterlin Gilbert as its quarterbacks coach and passing-game coordinator. The hiring had been reported last week.

The 2023 season was Gilbert's first with Ole Miss, and he was not in coaching in 2022.

Over the nine seasons before that Gilbert has been the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach on the FBS level at Tulsa (2015), Texas (2016), South Florida (2017-18) and Syracuse (2020-21).

In his single season at Texas in 2016, Gilbert was the architect of a run game that featured first-team All-American, Doak Walker Award and Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year Award winner D'Onta Foreman, who led the nation in rushing yards per game (184.4) and was second in total rushing yards (2,028).

Gilbert moved to South Florida the following campaign and his offense ranked in the top 25 in eight NCAA statistical categories on the way to a 10-2 overall record and a No. 21 ranking in the final AP Top 25. The Bulls broke the school record for total offense (513.0 ypg, No. 6 NCAA) and fewest turnovers (14), among others, while totaling the second-most total yards in school history (6,156).

At Syracuse, his 2021 offense led the ACC and ranked No. 16 nationally in rushing yards per game (213.5) with Sean Tucker ranking fourth in the nation in rushing yards per game (124.7).

Gilbert coached NFL quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo for two campaigns as the offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach at Eastern Illinois (2012-13) to highlight his FCS coaching career.

He was the head coach for one season at McNeese State (2019) and has spent the 2023 campaign as a senior analyst with an Ole Miss team that is currently ranked No. 11 nationally and preparing for a New Year's Six matchup with No. 10 Penn State at the  Peach Bowl.

"Sterlin has a wealth of quality collegiate coaching experience," Cal head coach Justin Wilcox said in a statement provided by Cal. "He has consistently produced elite offenses and developed excellent quarterbacks, and we are looking forward to him doing the same for our passing game and quarterback room."

"Coach Wilcox has assembled a tremendous coaching staff and has Cal football headed in the right direction," Gilbert said in a statement provided by Cal. "I'm excited to become a member of this staff and looking forward to all of the great things we can accomplish together."

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