On Sunday, Louisiana Tech found out (or, declined it or something) it would not be going bowling this year despite a 9-3 season. Now, it appears it won’t be able to keep its head coach, Sonny Dykes, either. Reportedly.
Footballscoop.com first reported Wednesday evening that Dykes was in line to become the new coach at Cal. ESPN’s Joe Schad and the Associated Press were later able to confirm the report. A news conference for that has reportedly been set for Thursday.
In fact, word around the Dykes camp has been mum over the past several days with the Bulldogs coach also being previously connected to the North Carolina State job. Northern Illinois coach David Doeren ultimately became the Wolfpack’s new coach.
Dykes would leave Louisiana Tech with a 22-15 record and would replace Jeff Tedford. The Bulldogs averaged over 51 points per game this season, the best in the country this year. Dykes spent three seasons as Arizona’s offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach before moving on to his first head-coaching job with the Bulldogs in 2010.
Updated 10:22 p.m. ET: In a release, Cal has confirmed that Sonny Dykes is the new football coach:
“Sonny Dykes is one of the brightest offensive minds in the country, running a high-octane style of football, one that I’m certain will allow our student-athletes to thrive and that our community will love on gameday,” AD Sandy Barbour said. “However, it was far more than his history of a top-ranked offense and his proven success on the football field that solidified my decision; it was the way he described his responsibility to the University at large and his commitment to creating a climate of comprehensive excellence and success for his student-athletes. We discussed the unique place that Berkeley and Cal Athletics occupy in higher education, standing for both academic and athletic excellence. Above all, Sonny values the opportunity to develop relationships with and have an impact on his student-athletes, staff and community.”
“I am excited for the opportunity to become head coach at the University of California,” Dykes said. “Cal offers one of the best combinations of athletics and academics in the country, and a passionate fan base to match. I’m looking forward to bringing our exciting and enthusiastic brand of football to Berkeley. Our objectives are numerous. In addition to winning football games, we will strive to develop the total student-athlete in the classroom, on the field of play and in the campus and local communities. We want a win everywhere mentally.”