Bryan Harsin is back in college football.
Cal announced Tuesday that the former Auburn and Boise State coach would become its new offensive coordinator. The 48-year-old Harsin has sat out of college football the past two seasons since being fired by Auburn with four games remaining in the 2022 regular season.
Harsin’s appointment comes a week after Cal announced it would have a new offensive coordinator in 2025. Mike Bloesch was the team’s offensive coordinator through the 2024 season and is still listed as the team coordinator on the Bears website.
“Coach Harsin is one of the best offensive minds in football and we are excited to welcome him to Cal,” Cal coach Justin Wilcox said in a statement. “I have spent several years of my coaching career on the same staff and in the same room as Coach Harsin. He is a proven winner whose track record speaks for itself and he will have an immediate impact on our offense and in recruiting.”
Harsin lasted less than two seasons at Auburn after transferring from Boise State. The Tigers were 9-12 overall and went 6-7 during his first season. That season ended with a loss in the Birmingham Bowl.
Boise State had a 69-19 record from 2014 through 2020 during Harsin’s tenure. He came to Boise State after one year as head coach of Arkansas State. Harsin, who was Boise State’s offensive coordinator from 2006 to 2010, returned to the Broncos to succeed Chris Petersen.
Cal scored at least 30 points in five games this season en route to a 6-6 record, but ranked just 81st in the nation at 26 points per game. QB Fernando Mendoza threw for over 3,000 yards in 11 games and completed 69% of his passes. He missed the final game of the regular season due to illness and the Bears scored just six points in a 32-point loss to SMU.
