California adjusts coaching staff, hiring Frank Cignetti
1/6/2008 4:26 PM
By GREG BEACHAM
AP Sports Writer
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BERKELEY, Calif. (AP) -California coach Jeff Tedford shuffled several spots on his staff Sunday, most notably hiring Frank Cignetti as his offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.
Tedford also hired Al Simmons as defensive backs coach, reassigned three assistants and announced the departure of two others, including respected defensive line coach Ken Delgado.
The Golden Bears finished 7-6 with a victory in last week's Armed Forces Bowl, a hugely disappointing end to a season that began with a 5-0 start and a No. 2 national ranking.
``The restructuring of our offensive staff enables me to focus more on program-wide head coaching duties,'' Tedford said. ``This is not a reflection on the performance of any of the assistant coaches. It has more to do with maximizing my efficiency as a head coach.''
Cignetti spent this season as the San Francisco 49ers' quarterbacks coach, but essentially was fired Wednesday when the club dismissed offensive coordinator Jim Hostler, Cignetti's longtime friend and college teammate.
Cignetti was the offensive coordinator at North Carolina and Fresno State before moving to the 49ers this season, and he interviewed for the same job at the University of Tennessee last week.
Cignetti likely is in for a quarterback controversy next season between veteran starter Nate Longshore and freshman Kevin Riley, who led the Bears to the victory over Air Force in last week's bowl game. Longshore's mediocre play down the stretch was the biggest reason Cal lost six of its final seven regular-season games.
Cignetti nominally replaces Jim Michalczik as Cal's offensive coordinator, but Michalczik's role as offensive line coach and assistant head coach won't change much, since Tedford always is in charge of the Golden Bears' offensive game plan.
Kevin Daft, who coached Cal's quarterbacks last season, was reassigned to wide receivers. Tedford also promoted graduate assistant Tosh Lupoi to defensive line coach to replace Delgado, who resigned to take a job at Louisville.
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