Cal expected to hire Wisconsin's Justin Wilcox as football coach

Cal’s search for a football coach lasted less than a week: The Bears are reportedly in contract negotiations with Justin Wilcox, the Wisconsin defensive coordinator and former Cal assistant coach.

Wilcox and Cal offensive coordinator Jake Spavital were the only confirmed as finalists, although other coaches, including Navy’s Ken Niutamalolo, were linked to the job by various media outlets.

The news was reported by FoxSports.com’s Bruce Feldman, who broke the story about Cal firing Sonny Dykes last weekend.

There was no immediate word on Wilcox’s coordinators, although sources have indicated Spavital could remain on staff to run the offense.

Former Cal assistant coach Tosh Lupoi is close to Wilcox and considered a candidate to be the defensive coordinator.

The Bears were under pressure to move quickly in order to salvage their recruiting class.

National Signing Day is?Feb. 1, and the new coach needs time to secure existing commitments and fill out the available scholarships.

After firing Sonny Dykes - whose dalliances with Baylor and Houston angered the Bears - earlier this week, athletic director Mike Williams said he wanted a coach who would remain at Cal for the long term.

That suggested a preference for candidates with ties to the school.

Wilcox, 40, is the son of former 49ers and Pro Football Hall of Famer Dave Wilcox.

Raised in Oregon, he played for the Ducks, then worked as a graduate assistant at Boise State before joining the Bears’ staff under Jeff Tedford.

Wilcox spent three seasons as an assistant in Berkeley, then embarked on a series of coordinator posts at Boise State, Tennessee, Washington, USC and Wisconsin.

Spavital was hired last winter by Dykes and impressed Cal officials with his playcalling and ability to relate to the players.

Names that were linked to the opening, but not confirmed as finalists, included Washington coordinators Jonathan Smith and Jimmy Lake, and USC playcaller Tee Martin.

Former 49ers coach Chip Kelly was not linked to the Bears’ vacancy by any credible sources or media reports.

Dykes left Louisiana Tech to replace Tedford and took over a struggling Cal program in 2013, but could never get the Bears turned around. They went 8-5 in 2015, but then slid back to 5-7 this season.