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In seven seasons at the helm, Jeff Tedford has established the California football program not only as one of the top programs in the Pacific-10 Conference, but has also lifted the Golden Bears into the national picture and remained true to his ideals of playing with class while excelling in the classroom and the community.
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88% percent of the seniors to play for Tedford have earned their
degrees and/or gone on to NFL careers.
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Under Tedford's leadership, the Golden Bears have finished among the nation's Top 25 teams in four of the last five seasons and also climbed into the AP National Top 10 for four consecutive campaigns from 2004-07. The team has played in six straight bowl games for the first time in history, winning each of the last four and five of the six appearances under Tedford to make him the first Cal mentor with more than two bowl victories. Cal's 59 wins in the past seven seasons are the most in a seven-year stretch in school history and nearly three times as many as the 21 wins the Bears managed in the seven years before Tedford's arrival. In addition, Tedford has had 74 players recognized as Pac-10 All-Academic. Of the 145 seniors who have played for Tedford, 128 (88%) have earned their degrees and/or gone on to NFL careers. All of this from a team which won just one game in 2001, the year prior to his arrival. The California football renaissance rates as one of the most impressive turnarounds in college football history.
Tedford's success with the California program has resulted in local devotion and national attention. On the local level, Cal set overall (450,223) and average (64,318) home attendance records in 2006. Cal set a season-ticket record of 41,366 in 2007 and averaged 63,136 over six contests. In 2008, the Bears drew a total of 431,437 fans over seven home dates for an average of 61,634. Entering 2009, the last 31 games at Memorial Stadium over the past five seasons have each drawn at least 50,000 fans.
Nationally, the Golden Bears have also had multiple Heisman Trophy candidates, most recently with Jahvid Best among the favorites in 2009. J.J. Arrington started getting the attention of Heisman Trophy voters on the Cal campus when he finished eighth in the final voting in 2004. Marshawn Lynch (2006) and DeSean Jackson (2007) were also top candidates.
Other national recognition has come the Bears way in recent years. Alex Mack was the winner of the 2008 Draddy Award (often referred to as the Academic Heisman). The prestigious and highly sought-after honor recognizes the top individual in the nation for combined academic success, football performance and exemplary community leadership. In 2006, the Bears had a pair of players collect national awards. Jackson was the recipient of the inaugural Randy Moss Award for the top return man in the country, while Daymeion Hughes earned the Lott Trophy, an award given in honor of former NFL player Ronnie Lott to a defensive player which equally recognizes athletic performance and the personal character of the player.
Not only have individuals gained recognition nationwide, Cal has also risen to No. 2 in the Pac-10 in television exposure, a dramatic increase over the years before Tedford. Prior to 2007, Cal had never had every game in a season televised but all 26 Cal contests in 2007 and 2008 have been on TV. In fact, a total of 73 Cal games have been televised in seven years under Tedford. In the seven years prior to that, only 41 Cal games were televised. National television broadcasts have more than doubled in that time.
Despite his success, Tedford remains devoted to being a mentor to the young men on his team.
"Football is more than a game," he said. "I think it teaches so many values for young people as they move on into life - teamwork, sacrifice, dedication, hard work - all those things are very valuable to their futures. I'm going to be a person that they can trust and talk to while they're here. But I really hope that when they leave, they understand that they can come back and ask me for anything and count on me in any situation."
His legendary work ethic, exemplified by the well-used air mattress in his office, shows the coach's drive, which is not geared towards individual success. His true goals are success as a team and success for his student-athletes.
"Jeff is the hardest worker I have ever encountered in this business," Director of Athletics Sandy Barbour said. "He is not going to be outworked, because he believes he owes that to his student-athletes."
That relentless drive developed in Tedford as a young football player in Downey, Calif., and at Warren High School in his hometown. After a solid high school career, the undersized quarterback went on to a standout two-year stint at Cerritos College and a record-setting two-year stay at Fresno State. During his days as a Bulldog, he established several passing records, including career marks for passing yardage (4,872) and touchdown passes (35), while earning honorable mention All-America notice in 1982 when he set school standards for yards passing (2,993) and TD passes (24).
After receiving a bachelor's degree in physical education from Fresno State in 1983, Tedford played pro football in the Canadian Football League for six seasons with Hamilton, Calgary, Saskatchewan and Winnipeg. He completed 54 percent of his passes during his career, appearing in the league's championship game (Grey Cup) with Hamilton in 1984.
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"Jeff is the hardest worker I have ever encountered in this business. He is not going to be outworked, because he believes he owes that to his student-athletes."
Cal Director of Athletics Sandy Barbour
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Tedford has used his own signal-calling experience to build a reputation as a quarterbacks guru. During his 17-year collegiate coaching career at California (2002-Present), Oregon (1998-2001) and Fresno State (1992-97), Tedford has been integral in the development of six first round picks in the NFL Draft, including Trent Dilfer, Akili Smith, Joey Harrington, David Carr, Kyle Boller and Aaron Rodgers. In 2004, Rodgers, an under the radar junior college transfer like Tedford, ranked No. 8 nationally in passing efficiency, completing 66.1 percent of his passes for 2,566 yards and 24 touchdowns with only eight interceptions. He was almost as good the previous season when he completed 61.6 percent of his passes for 2,903 yards and 19 touchdowns with only five interceptions.
Despite his success with quarterbacks, Tedford's teams feature balanced attacks and have become notorious for their ferocity on the ground. In his last 10 years as a coach, Tedford's running backs have posted 1,000-yard rushing seasons an amazing 11 times. In 2004, Arrington broke Chuck Muncie's single-season school record with 2,018 yards, which ranked No. 1 in the NCAA. In 2007, Justin Forsett's 1,546 rushing yards were the second-best in Cal history, but Best's four-game flourish (814 yards) at the end of 2008 gave him 1,580 for the year to move past Forsett. Lynch had back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons in 2005 and 2006, while Adimchinobe Echemandu (1,195 yards in 2003) and Joe Igber (1,075 yards in 2002) have also reached the magic mark under Tedford.
While offense has been Tedford's forte, California's defense has toughened considerably during his reign as well, allowing an average of just 22.1 points per game during his seven-year tenure, second-best in the Pac-10 over that period. In 2004, Cal ranked eighth nationally in scoring defense, allowing just 16.0 points per game, while in 2005, the Golden Bears led the Pac-10 in scoring defense, allowing just 21.2 points per game. In 2008, Cal led the Pac-10 in the two key categories of red zone defense (68.2%) and takeaways (34).
Tedford's combination of precision passing and relentless rushing, as well as his pairing of potent offense and relentless defense, has led to seven straight seasons with seven or more wins, including eight wins or better in five of the last six years. The Golden Bears posted 10 wins for the sixth and seventh times in school history under Tedford's leadership in 2004 and 2006.
Prior to his arrival in Berkeley, Tedford was a highly regarded offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Oregon, serving in that role for four seasons including 2001 when the Ducks finished ranked No. 2 nationally.
Tedford played an integral role in the rise of the Oregon program during his tenure in Eugene - a period in which the Ducks posted the Pac-10's best record (38-10) while finishing progressively better each year (8-4 in '98, 9-3 in '99, 10-2 in '00 and 11-1 in '01). During his first season as offensive coordinator in 1998, the Ducks set school records in passing yards, total offense and points scored. Tedford's passing acumen was clearly evident in the rapid development of Smith, who earned Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Year accolades in finishing second in the nation in passing efficiency and later being chosen third overall in the 1999 NFL Draft by Cincinnati.
Duck quarterbacks A.J. Feeley and Harrington combined to pass for 3,131 yards and 24 TDs on the Sun Bowl champion team that ranked 13th nationally in scoring in 1999, while the 2000 club tied for the Pac-10 crown and defeated Texas in the Holiday Bowl. Tedford's last Oregon squad, which bagged wins over Colorado, Washington State, UCLA and Wisconsin en route to a No. 2 ranking, showcased one of the nation's premier quarterbacks in Harrington, who won Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Year honors and finished fourth in the Heisman balloting.
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Along with the expectations, which we embrace, it's really important to always stay hungry. I don't think we've attained our full potential yet. It's something we always strive to do. We never want to be satisfied with where we've been. We always want to look forward to where we're going.
Cal head football coach Jeff Tedford
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In 1992 as the quarterbacks coach at Fresno State, Tedford began honing the skills of Dilfer, who quarterbacked Baltimore to a victory in Super Bowl XXXV. Under Tedford's guidance, the Bulldogs' quarterback earned first-team All-WAC honors for an offense that led the nation in scoring (44.2 points per game), ranked second nationally in total offense (541.9 yards per game) and beat USC in the Freedom Bowl. A season later, Tedford moved up to be the Bulldogs' offensive coordinator, and Fresno State ranked third nationally in scoring and total offense while earning an Aloha Bowl invitation. Dilfer ranked first nationally in passing efficiency (173.1 rating) and won the WAC Offensive Player of the Year award. The Bulldog signal caller later was chosen by Tampa Bay with the sixth overall selection of the 1994 NFL Draft.
"I believe Jeff's one of the finest minds in all of football," said Dilfer, who currently serves as a football analyst for ESPN after a 14-year playing career in the NFL. "He's certainly the finest coach I've ever been around. He's a great leader and great teacher. He has very high expectations for himself and the people around him. And he will work tirelessly to meet those expectations. Jeff taught me more about toughness and the game of football than any coach I've ever played for, and I've had some awfully good coaches."
Tedford's coaching career began as a volunteer assistant at Fresno State in 1987, spending two years there before joining Calgary in the CFL in 1989. He served as an offensive assistant with the Stampeders for three seasons, including the 1991 team that advanced to the Grey Cup title game.
Despite his tremendous success as a coach and mentor, Tedford still follows a basic philosophy.
"We try to focus on one game at a time and try to reach our full potential," he said with emphasis.
And he still values each and every member of his football team.
"Whether it be the guys who are suited up, the guys who are going to play 50-60 plays or the guys who aren't going to play at all, I want them all to understand that they are very important to the success of the program. Their contributions are invaluable."
Tedford's hard work and dedication not only inspire his players to give the same toward the success of California football, it has also made him a role model to the young men who are part of the Cal program.
"Coach Tedford wasn't just a coach, I think of him as more like a father figure," said All-Pac-10 linebacker and current Green Bay Packer Desmond Bishop. "He taught us lessons about life. He taught us to have integrity, to have character. He prepared us to be men."
The Tedford File
Birthdate Nov. 2, 1961
Hometown Downey, Calif.
High School Warren HS
College Fresno State '83
Bachelor's in Physical Education
Junior College Cerritos College
Family wife, Donna; sons, Taylor and Quinn
Coaching At Cal
• Has posted a 59-30 (.663) record in seven seasons as head coach.• Has led the Golden Bears to seven straight winning seasons and six consecutive bowl games.
• Is 6-1 in the Big Game after inheriting a seven-game losing streak in the series.
• Is 5-1 in bowl games with four straight wins and is the only Cal coach with more than two bowl victories.
• Has 10 wins over ranked teams - matching Cal's wins over ranked teams from the 13 years prior to his arrival.
• Cal has been among the nation's Top 25 in each of the last five seasons and reached the AP Top 10 for four consecutive campaigns from 2003-07.
• 88 percent of Tedford's seniors (128 of 145 student-athletes) have earned their degrees and/or gone on to NFL careers.
Playing Experience
• Honorable mention All-American at Fresno State, where he left the school as the all-time record holder in passing yards (4,872) and touchdown passes (35).• Set single-season school marks in 1982 for passing yards (2,993) and TD passes (24).
• Accumulated a 54 percent completion rate in six seasons as a Canadian Football League quarterback.
Bowls (12)
Year Bowl School 2008 Emerald California 2007 Armed Forces California 2006 Holiday California 2005 Las Vegas California 2004 Holiday California 2003 Insight California 2001 Fiesta Oregon 2000 Holiday Oregon 1999 Sun Oregon 1998 Aloha Oregon 1993 Aloha Fresno State 1992 Freedom Fresno State
Coaching Honors
Year Honor 2006 Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year Finalist 2004 Pac-10 Coach of the Year 2002 Pac-10 Coach of the Year
Coaching Chronology
School Year Position Record Highlights
California 2008 Head Coach 9-4 Emerald Bowl champions
California 2007 Head Coach 7-6 Armed Forces Bowl champions
California 2006 Head Coach 10-3 Pac-10 co-champions
Holiday Bowl champions
California 2005 Head Coach 8-4 Las Vegas Bowl champions
California 2004 Head Coach 10-2 Holiday Bowl participant
Pac-10 Coach of the Year
Ranked No. 9 nationally
California 2003 Head Coach 8-6 Insight Bowl champions
California 2002 Head Coach 7-5 Pac-10 Coach of the Year
Oregon 2001 Off. Coord. 11-1 Pac-10 champions
Ranked No. 2 nationally
Fiesta Bowl champions
Oregon 2000 Off. Coord. 10-2 Pac-10 co-champions
Ranked No. 7 nationally
Holiday Bowl champions
Oregon 1999 Off. Coord. 9-3 Sun Bowl champions
Oregon 1998 Off. Coord. 8-4 Aloha Bowl participant
Fresno State 1997 Off. Coord. 6-6
Fresno State 1996 Off. Coord. 4-7
Fresno State 1995 Off. Coord. 5-7
Fresno State 1994 Off. Coord. 5-7-1
Fresno State 1993 Off. Coord. 8-4 WAC tri-champions
No. 3 scoring offense nationally
Aloha Bowl participant
Fresno State 1992 Quarterbacks 9-4 WAC tri-champions
No. 1 scoring offense nationally
Freedom Bowl champions
Calgary (CFL) 1991 Off. Asst. 11-7 Grey Cup runner-up
Calgary (CFL) 1990 Off. Asst. 11-6-1 Western Division champions
Calgary (CFL) 1989 Off. Asst. 10-8
Cal Accomplishments Under Jeff Tedford
2002
• Named Pac-10 Coach of the Year as voted by conference coaches, becoming the third Cal coach to receive the honor since the award's inception in 1975.
• Enjoyed a six-win increase from the previous season, tying for the biggest one-year turnaround in the nation and the second largest about-face in school history (the 1947 club went 9-1 after a 2-7 season in 1946).
• Beat three nationally ranked teams (Michigan State, Washington and Arizona State) in the same season for the first time in 52 years.
• Scored three road victories over nationally ranked opponents in the same season for the first time in school history.
• Halted a 12-year victory drought in Sun Devil Stadium, mowing down Arizona State, 55-38.
• Set a modern day school record by scoring 427 points in 2002 (broken in 2003) with a 35.6-point scoring average that tied for 10th best in the nation.
• Defeated Washington to snap a 19-game losing streak to the Huskies.
• Capped the season by registering Cal's first Big Game win over Stanford in eight years, a 30-7 throttling of the Cardinal.
2003
• First back-to-back winning seasons at Cal in 12 years.
• Set school marks for total offense (6,061) and first downs (321), as well as a modern day record for scoring (457).
• Led the Pac-10 in rushing for the first time in 45 years with 2,356 yards and a 168.3 per game average.
• Posted first bowl win at Cal in 10 years (52-49) vs. Virginia Tech in the Insight Bowl.
• Set school bowl records for most points (52), total yards (530), passing yards (394), completion percentage (77.1, later broken), TDs (7) and rushing TDs (5, later tied).
• Beat a team ranked as high as No. 3 nationally for the first time in 52 years with a 34-31 victory in three overtimes over No. 3 USC.
• Defeated Washington in Berkeley for the first time in 28 years, with a 54-7 win the widest margin of victory by a Cal team in a conference game in 81 years, setting a single-game record for total offense with 729 yards in the contest.
2004
• Named Pac-10 Coach of the Year for the second time, something no other Cal football head coach has ever done.
• Reached Cal's highest national ranking (No. 4) in 52 years.
• Posted school's best regular-season record (10-1) since 1950's club was 9-0-1 in the regular season.
• First perfect home record (5-0) in 55 years.
• Most road wins (5) in school history.
• Earned first back-to-back bowl trips since 1990 and '91.
• Set school record for total offense (492.4 ypg), ranking No. 1 in the Pac-10.
• Broke school mark for yards per offensive play (7.0), almost one yard better than old standard of 6.1 in 2003.
• Led Pac-10 in rushing (256.8 ypg) for second straight year, which were the first two times since 1958.
• Allowed fewest points by Cal defense since 1968, ranking eighth nationally at 16.0 ppg.
• Recorded first back-to-back defensive shutouts in 36 years (38-0 at Arizona, 27-0 vs. Arizona State).
2005
• Finished No. 25 in the AP and the coaches' poll, marking the first time Cal had appeared in final polls in consecutive seasons since five in a row from 1947-51.
• Finished the season ninth nationally with 235.3 rushing yards per game to mark the Bears' second straight season as a top 10 rushing team (sixth in 2004).
• Won fourth straight Big Game for the first time since the 1936-39.
• Won again at Stanford, marking Cal's first two-game win streak at Stanford since winning six straight on The Farm from 1937-51.
2006
• Guided Cal to 10 wins, just the seventh time in school history the Bears have posted 10 victories.
• Cal recorded its fourth straight season with at least eight victories.
• Named a finalist for Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year Award, which honors the coach who best exemplifies responsibility and excellence on and off the field of play.
• Led Cal to its fifth straight Big Game win for the first time since the club won five in a row from 1919-23.
• Led Bears to a perfect home record.
• Beat Washington for the fifth straight time after dropping 19 straight in the series.
2007
• Led the Bears to a top 10 in-season ranking for the fourth straight campaign.
• Six players were selected in the 2008 NFL Draft - a school-record for the seven-round draft.
• Tailback Justin Forsett rushed for 1,546 yards - the third-most in school history.
• Opened the year with a thrilling 45-31 victory over No. 15 Tennessee on national television.
• Also defeated No. 11 Oregon on the road with the ESPN Gameday crew in attendance.
• Directed the Bears to a No. 2 ranking in the nation - their highest ranking since 1951.
• All 13 of Cal's games were televised - the first time in program history that every game was broadcast.
2008
• Set a record with its fourth consecutive bowl victory.
• Increased its school record run of bowl appearances to six.
• Posted a winning record for the seventh straight year, marking the first time the Golden Bears have had seven straight winning seasons since Cal had eight in a row from 1918-25.
• Increased Cal's victory total during his tenure to 59 - the best ever by a Golden Bears team in a seven-year stretch.
• Posted a 7-0 home record to mark the third time in the last five seasons Cal has been unbeaten at home.
• Cal finished No. 25 in coaches' poll to mark fourth top 25 finish in last five years.
• Tailback Jahvid Best rushed for 1,580 yards - the second most in school history and extending the school record of consecutive years with a 1,000-yard rusher to seven.
• Defense ranked sixth nationally in pass efficiency.
• Team recorded most interceptions (24) since 1948.
• Produced Draddy Trophy winner Alex Mack.
Last Updated: August 27, 2009
