Cal announces offensive coaching staff

Head coach Jeff Tedford announced changes to the Cal football team's offensive coaching staff on Saturday. Jim Michalczik will return to Cal as offensive coordinator/offensive line coach and Marcus Arroyo has been hired as quarterbacks coach. Associate head coach Ron Gould has been promoted to the team's run game coordinator, while Eric Kiesau will serve as pass game coordinator.

"I'm pleased to have been able to put our offensive coaching staff together in this structure," said Tedford. "We have a talented and experienced group of coaches on the offensive side of the ball that will work well together to provide effective strategy and leadership for our offensive game plan."

Michalczik previously spent seven winning seasons coaching the Bears' offensive line from 2002-08. He has been the offensive line coach for the Oakland Raiders the last two seasons (2009-10) after 19 previous campaigns in the collegiate coaching ranks.

"Jim is a fantastic coach with a proven track record of success," said Tedford. "He understands our program and what it takes to win games at the highest level of football. We had a tremendous amount of success in our offensive line play during Jim's previous tenure at Cal and we plan to resume and surpass that level of success in the future."

"My entire family is excited and fired up to be returning to the Cal football program," said Michalczik. "I am thankful for the opportunity coach Tedford has provided me to return to his staff and resume working with him. I am proud of what we have accomplished at Cal in the past and am looking forward to what we can accomplish in the future."

The play of Cal's offensive line under Michalczik's direction from 2002-08 was a key factor in the Bears' 59-30 (.663) record during the period. Cal produced bowl bids in each of Michalczik's last six seasons during his first run at Cal and bowl victories in five of those campaigns, including each of the last four. The 2004 and 2006 squads both tied single-season school records with 10 victories, with the latter sharing the regular-season Pac-10 title.

The Bears put a lot of points on the scoreboard with Michalczik as their offensive line coach, ranking among the nation's top 30 in scoring offense in six of his first seven seasons in Berkeley. Cal averaged at least 30.0 points per game six times during the period, including a 36.8 mark in 2004 that ranked second in the Pac-10 and seventh nationally as well as a single-season school-record 457 total points during a 14-game season in 2003.

Cal also chewed up the yardage both in the air and on the ground from 2002-08, averaging at least 350.0 yards per game of total offense in each of Michalczik's seven seasons, including a school-record 492.4 yards per contest in 2004 as part of a five-year run from 2003-07 when the Bears averaged at least 400.0 yards per game.

Cal's rushing attack that produced 1,000-yard rushers in each of Michalczik's first seven seasons keyed much of the offensive production. In 2004, J.J. Arrington set a single-season school record with 2,018 rushing yards and ranked second in the nation in rushing yards per game (168.2 ypg), with Michalczik's offensive line clearing the way. Arrington was also the eighth-leading vote getter in the Heisman Trophy race that year. The Bears were ranked in the top 10 nationally in rushing offense in both 2004 (sixth) and 2005 (ninth), while leading the Pac-10 in both 2003 and 2004.

Cal's offensive line also had a great deal of success protecting the quarterback under Michalczik, including a pair of back-to-back seasons in 2006 and 2007 when the Bears allowed only a combined 24 sacks in 26 games - fewest in the Pac-10 and third-best in the nation during that period. The protection helped Cal quarterbacks produce five of the six highest single-season TD passing totals in school history during his seven-year run. The Bears averaged at least 240.0 yards per game in passing four times in seven of those seasons, including an average of 264.6 yards per game in 2003 that is the fourth-best in school history.

Michalczik was instrumental in the development of two-time first-team All-American and three-time first-team All-Pac-10 center Alex Mack, who was selected by the Cleveland Browns in the first round (21st pick overall) of the 2009 NFL Draft and has started all 32 games possible in his first two NFL seasons (2009, '10). Mack, who was named to the Pro Bowl for the first time in 2010, was a two-time finalist for the Rimington Trophy awarded to the nation's top center and twice earned the Morris Trophy on the offensive side of the ball in 2007 and 2008. The honor is annually awarded to the Pac-10's top offensive and defensive linemen.

There were other significant success stories on the offensive line under Michalczik, with a total of eight first-team All-Pac-10 selections occurring during his seven previous seasons. In addition to Mack's three consecutive selections (2006, '07, '08), Mark Wilson (2003), Ryan O'Callaghan (2004, '05) and Marvin Philip (2004, '05) were also first-team choices. In addition, O'Callaghan was a Morris Trophy winner as a senior in 2005, while Philip was a two-time finalist for the Rimington Trophy in 2004 and '05. All told, Cal offensive linemen earned 21 first-team, second-team or honorable mention All-Pac-10 honors under Michalczik, including all five starters in 2004.

Mack, along with current NFL players Brian De La Puente (New Orleans Saints), Mike Gibson (Seattle Seahawks), O'Callaghan (Kansas City Chiefs) and Mike Tepper (Indianapolis Colts) are five of the 10 former Cal offensive linemen that played for Michalczik to move on to the NFL. Aaron Merz (2006-07), Philip (2006-09), Erik Robertson (2007-08), Scott Tercero (2003-04) and Wilson (2004-09) have also spent time in the league.

Michalczik played a key role in the Raiders' offensive resurgence during his second season in Oakland as the squad ranked second in the NFL in rushing (155.9 ypg), sixth in scoring (25.6 ppg) and 10th in total offense (354.6 ypg), after not being in the top 20 in any of the categories the previous season.

Prior to joining Cal in 2002, Michalczik spent three seasons at Oregon State coaching the tight ends, while also serving as special teams coordinator. The Beavers posted their first winning season in 29 years in his first campaign in Corvallis in 1999. The following season OSU finished ranked No. 4 in the nation after going 11-1 and tying for the Pac-10 title.

Michalczik was also the offensive line coach for seven seasons at Montana State from 1992-98 after beginning his coaching career with two campaigns (1990-91) as the defensive line coach at Miami, Fla. The Hurricanes won a share of the 1991 national title after posting an unbeaten 12-0 season. In 1990, Miami was ranked fourth nationally and finished with a 9-2 mark.

After a standout prep career at Port Angeles High School, Michalczik earned three letters as an offensive guard at Washington State. He was an honorable mention All-American selection by Sporting News as a senior in 1988. Michalczik earned a bachelor's degree in education from Washington State in 1988 and signed as a free agent with the Arizona Cardinals the following year but never saw action in an NFL game.

The native of Port Angeles, Wash. and his wife, Jennifer, have two sons, Max and Chase.

Arroyo, a former San Jose State quarterback, has spent the last eight seasons coaching at the collegiate level. He has been an offensive coordinator or co-offensive coordinator for the past four campaigns.

"Marcus is a tremendous addition to our staff," said Tedford. "He has done an excellent job developing quarterbacks throughout his coaching career. He's young and enthusiastic, but he also has more than a decade of experience coaching and playing the position at the collegiate level. We're excited to bring him into our program."

"I'm excited to have the opportunity to join the football coaching staff at the University of California," said Arroyo. "Growing up in Northern California, I have long admired Cal as a place that is a fabulous university with an excellent football program. I hope that I can add to what Cal already is by bringing my energy, enthusiasm and knowledge for the game of football and specifically the quarterback position."

Arroyo's most recent coaching stint came at Wyoming where he served as the Cowboys' offensive coordinator and quarterbacks' coach during the 2009 and 2010 campaigns. During his two seasons at Wyoming, he developed 2009 true freshman quarterback Austyn Carta-Samuels into the Mountain West Conference Freshman of the Year and the Offensive MVP of the 2009 New Mexico Bowl. Carta-Samuels completed 59.7 percent of his passes in two campaigns under Arroyo's guidance.

Arroyo made a significant impact in his first season at Wyoming in 2009 when he installed a new spread offense that helped the Cowboys score 30 or more points five times, winning all five of those games. Arroyo's offense displayed an ability to come from behind in his first season, recording five fourth-quarter comebacks. His offensive unit did an outstanding job of protecting the ball, as well. Wyoming ranked No. 7 in the nation in fewest turnovers lost (14) and was No. 15 in the NCAA in both fewest fumbles lost (7) and fewest interceptions thrown (7).

When Wyoming captured the 2009 New Mexico Bowl title, it marked the second time in four seasons that Arroyo was part of a New Mexico Bowl winning team. His other victory in the game came in 2006 while he was coaching at San Jose State.

Prior to his stint at Wyoming, Arroyo was the co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks' coach at his alma mater, San Jose State. He was the quarterbacks' coach and play-caller for the Spartans from 2006-08, and was the co-offensive coordinator for his final two seasons under head coach Dick Tomey.

In two of those three campaigns, 2006 and 2008, the Spartans earned bowl eligible status. In 2006, San Jose State posted a record of 9-4, and earned a berth in the inaugural New Mexico Bowl where they defeated New Mexico by a score of 20-12. SJSU again achieved bowl eligibility status in 2008, with a 6-6 mark, but wasn't invited to a bowl game.

From 2006-07, Arroyo tutored the Spartans' all-time leading passer and total offense leader Adam Tafralis, who set school records for career passing yards (7,548) and career total offense (8,111). Tafralis went on to sign a free-agent contract with the Indianapolis Colts of the NFL in the spring of 2008. He has played the last three seasons (2008-10) with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League.

Arroyo began his college coaching career in 2003, serving as an undergraduate assistant coach at his alma mater for one year. In 2004, he was the offensive coordinator at Prairie View A&M, an NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) team in Prairie View, Texas. He returned to San Jose State in 2005 as a graduate assistant coach before being elevated to a full-time assistant in 2006.

Arroyo played quarterback at San Jose State in 1998 and from 2000-02. He finished his career among San Jose State's all-time leaders in passing yards (No. 9, 4,603), total offense (No. 9, 4,525) and passing efficiency (No. 10, 115.6 rating).

Arroyo received his bachelor's degree in kinesiology at SJSU in 2003.

He and his wife, Kelly, were married on July 9, 2010. Kelly began her collegiate athletic career as a volleyball player at Southern Oregon and later was a swimmer at San Jose State.

Gould enters his 15th season at Cal in 2011 and has coached some of the nation's top performing running backs year-in and year-out for the Bears. Cal has produced a 1,000-yard rusher eight times in the last nine seasons, most recently when Shane Vereen surpassed the mark in 2010.

"Ron Gould has done a terrific job developing running backs at Cal for a long time," said Tedford. "He is certainly deserving of this promotion and we are fortunate to have a coach with his qualifications, experience and expertise leading our running game."

"I'm grateful to be receiving the opportunity to provide additional input into our offensive game plan," said Gould. "The proven success of our running game for many years has afforded me this opportunity. I'm looking forward to working closely with coach Tedford and the other coaches on our offensive staff to achieve great success."

Cal has been known for a two-tailback system during Gould's tenure, with the Bears' top two rushers combining for at least 1,500 yards each of the last eight campaigns.

There are many household NFL names that are former Cal running backs. Seven of his backs in the last six years have gone on to the NFL, most recently with the first-round selection (30th overall) of Jahvid Best by the Detroit Lions in the 2010 NFL Draft. Others throughout his Cal career that have moved on to the NFL include J.J. Arrington, Adimchinobe Echemandu, Justin Forsett, Marshawn Lynch, Chris Manderino, Tarik Smith, Byron Storer and Will Ta'ufo'ou.

Before Vereen reached the 1,000-yard mark in 2010, Best was the most recent Cal running back to surpass the mark when he galloped for 1,580 yards in 2008 to lead the Pac-10 in rushing and rank second on the school's all-time single-season rushing list. Best is one of three Cal tailbacks to have led the Pac-10 in rushing under Gould. Lynch (2006) and Arrington (2004) are the others.

Arrington had the biggest season ever by a Cal running back in 2004 when he rushed for 2,018 yards during a consensus All-American campaign and finished eighth in the Heisman Trophy voting. Arrington rushed for over 100 yards in each of his 12 games that season.

Cal has had a 1,000-yard rusher in the backfield in eight of the last nine seasons in Joe Igber (2002), Echemandu (2003), Arrington (2004), Lynch (2005, '06), Forsett (2007), Best (2008) and Vereen (2010).

Three of those backs - Lynch (2006), Forsett (2007) and Best (2008) - were first team All-Pac-10 choices. Lynch was also the Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Year. Best was a second-team All-Pac-10 selection in 2009, while Vereen was a second-team choice in 2010 after earning honorable mention honors in 2009.

Cal ranked sixth in the country in rushing offense in 2004 and then ninth in 2005. The Bears led the Pac-10 in both 2003 and '04, while also pacing the conference in rushing touchdowns in 2003.

Prior to his arrival at Cal in 1997, Gould was the defensive backs coach at Boise State for four seasons (1993-96) after a one-year stint in the same role at Portland State (1992) and two seasons as a graduate assistant at Oregon (1990-91).

Kiesau was previously the Golden Bears' wide receivers coach for four seasons (2002-05) before spending the past five campaigns (2006-10) on the Colorado coaching staff.

"We're excited to have Eric rejoin the Cal football family," said Tedford. "He did a tremendous job in all aspects of coaching our wide receivers during his first stint at Cal, and he understands what we expect of both our coaches and players. Eric has a strong work ethic, and is an excellent teacher of the wide receiver position and all aspects of the game of football."

"I feel fortunate to be able to return to a place that provided some of my fondest football memories," said Kiesau. "I am committed to helping Cal consistently remain one of the nation's top football programs on the field, in the classroom and in the community."

Cal compiled a 33-17 overall record, posted four consecutive winning seasons and won three bowl games when Kiesau coached the Bears' wide receivers during his four previous seasons in Berkeley. Cal's receiving core consistently put up strong numbers in a passing game during that time and for two of those seasons (2003-04) provided reliable targets for quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who is now one of the top signal callers in the NFL.

In Kiesau's second season at Cal in 2003, the Bears broke a school record with 278 receptions and averaged 264.6 passing yards per game to rank fourth in school history.

Cal receiver Geoff McArthur earned second-team All-American and first-team All-Pac-10 honors as the nation's second-leading pass catcher under Kiesau in 2003, recording an average of 115.69 receiving yards per game. McArthur set a pair of school records that still stand today during that campaign, breaking the club's mark for receiving yards in a single season with 1,504 on 85 catches (17.7 ypc) and establishing a single-game record with 16 catches for 245 yards in the Big Game at Stanford. The 85 catches in a season and 245 yards receiving in a game are both second on their respective all-time Cal lists, while his 10 touchdown receptions during the same season are tied for third.

Cal's passing game was also strong in the seasons both prior to and following the school-record campaign, with per-game passing averages of 247.6 yards in 2002 and 235.7 yards in 2004.

McArthur also posted strong 2002 and 2004 seasons, and finished his collegiate career after the 2004 campaign as Cal's all-time leader in both receptions (202) and receiving yards (3,188), with both marks remaining school records today. McArthur's career average of 17.7 yards per catch is also the best among all Cal receivers on the school's career top-10 list for receptions.

Kiesau was also Cal's wide receivers coach in 2005 during DeSean Jackson's first season with the Bears when the future NFL All-Pro and Pro Bowler set the school's true freshman record for both receptions (38) and receiving yards (601), with the latter still standing. Jackson also picked up the mark for the most receiving yards in a game by a true freshman at Cal when he totaled 130 at New Mexico State, a record that stood until Keenan Allen broke the mark in 2010. Kiesau also tutored a pair of young receivers in Lavelle Hawkins and Robert Jordan in 2005 that along with Jackson formed the core of a solid Cal receiving group that would lead the Bears through the end of their collegiate careers in 2007.

Prior to his arrival at Cal, Kiesau served as Colorado's passing game coordinator and receivers coach for three seasons (2006-08) before being promoted to offensive coordinator and assistant head coach, and working with the quarterbacks during his final two campaigns in Boulder (2009-10).

At Colorado, Kiesau was largely responsible for the development of receiver Scotty McKnight from a walk-on as a true freshman in 2006 to the top receiver in school history by the time he finished his collegiate career in 2010. McKnight's final receiving numbers for the Buffs were 219 catches for 2,588 yards with 22 touchdown grabs - all school records. He also caught at least one pass in all 49 of the collegiate games he played in from 2007-10, earning him another school record and giving him the longest string of consecutive games played with a catch among all NCAA players active during the 2010 season. In addition, he was the only player in the history of Colorado football to lead his team in receptions for four consecutive campaigns.

Kiesau's first full-time coaching position came in 2000 when he began a two-year stint as the running backs and receivers coach at Utah State. He tutored third-team All-American Emmitt White, who led the nation in all-purpose yards and ranked 13th nationally in rushing in 2000. In his second season at USU in 2001, he coached wide receiver Kevin Curtis to an All-American season in which he led the nation with 100 receptions while ranking third in receiving yards per game (139.2).

Kiesau earned his bachelor's degree in business communications from Portland State in 1996, where he lettered at quarterback and was his school's starter at the position during his 1995 senior campaign. He was also an All-American junior college quarterback at Glendale Community College as a sophomore in 1992.

Upon graduation from PSU, Kiesau worked the better part of five years in private business, for Corporate America in Portland, and then Eclipse Specialties, Inc. in North Hollywood. He began his collegiate coaching career at his junior college alma mater in 1998 and had a brief stint as the teamwork coordinator at Oregon in the winter and spring of 2000, before moving on to Utah State.

Kiesau (pronounced key-SAW) graduated in 1991 from Glendale High School, where he lettered in football and baseball. He is married to the former Wendy Kanan. The couple has two children - daughter, Tayler (13) and son, Blake (7).