Sources: Fred Tate to join Cal staff as DL coach
According to multiple sources now, former Cincinnati defensive line coach Fred Tate will be named Cal's new defensive line coach.
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Tate will be charged with resurrecting a d-line that finished with the second fewest sacks in the country, lost both of its starting defensive tackles to the NFL Draft -- senior Deandre Coleman and junior Vi Moala -- as well as senior defensive end Dan Camporeale.
A 17-year coaching veteran, Tate spent has spent time at Cincy, Texas Tech, Marshall, Tennessee-Chatanooga, Southern Miss, East Carolina, Middle Tennessee State, Texas State and Jacksonville State.
Tate's line helped the Bearcats turn in the second most sacks in the AAC last season with 35, trailing only Louisville.
At Tech, Tate helped the Raiders finish just from No. 114 in total defense in 2011 to No. 39 in the NCAA FBS in total defense in 2012.
A native of Hattiesburg, Miss., Tate was an Army enlistee out of high school, spent five years as a combat engineer in the Airborne Division, earned an Army Commendation Medal, and was named Soldier of the Quarter three times.
Following his service, Tate attended East Central Community College in Decatur, Miss., where he was a JC Gridwire All-America selection as a sophomore and was voted the Most Valuable Offensive Player of the National Junior College All-Star Game.
His playing career continued at Southern Mississippi, playing defensive end and tackle in 1995 and 1996.