Sonny Dykes has been fired at Cal. Photo Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports
The California Golden Bears fired coach Sonny Dykes on Sunday after four seasons, multiple outlets reported.
The firing comes 43 days after the Golden Bears completed a dismal 5-7 season.
Dykes went 19-30 in his tenure with Cal and produced just one winning season. The Golden Bears went 8-5 in 2015 behind quarterback Jared Goff, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2016 NFL draft.
The school hasn’t yet formally acknowledged the dismissal of Dykes.
The timing of Dykes’ firing is fueling speculation that recently fired San Francisco 49ers coach Chip Kelly could be a target.
Kelly floundered in NFL head-coaching gigs with the Philadelphia Eagles and 49ers but he was a stellar college coach at Oregon, leading the Ducks to a 46-7 record from 2009-12.
Kelly, 53, won at least 10 games in all four seasons at Oregon and his 2010 squad lost to Cam Newton-led Auburn in the BCS national title game.
Just last week, Kelly told Fox Sports he was open to a return to the college level.
Meanwhile, Dykes interviewed for the Baylor opening following this season and that might have ruffled some feathers in the administration. His contract runs through the 2019 campaign and the extension that pays him an average of $2.8 million annually was completed following the 2015 season.
Following the 2014 season, Dykes interviewed for the Missouri and Houston jobs.
Before being hired by Cal, Dykes compiled a 22-15 record at Louisiana Tech from 2010-12. He has a 41-45 record in seven seasons as a college head coach.
Offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Jake Spavital reportedly will serve as interim coach.
Davis Webb, who was Cal’s quarterback last season, tweeted his reaction to the news.
“Thankful to been under Coach Dykes leadership and staff,” Webb wrote. “Wouldn’t have been a Cal Bear without him, wish him luck with his future coaching.”
The Golden Bears used the progressive “Bear Raid” offensive system under Dykes and averaged 37.1 points and 513.2 yards this season. However, the defense was atrocious as Cal finished last among 128 FBS teams in total defense (554.3) and next-to-last in scoring defense (42.6).
