Ron Rivera, Cal football’s newly appointed general manager, recently met with reporters to shed light on his vision for revitalizing the program at his alma mater. The former NFL coach detailed his comprehensive approach to elevating Cal football amid significant challenges, including roster turnover through the transfer portal and the program’s transition to the ACC.
Central to Rivera’s strategy is his collaborative relationship with head coach Justin Wilcox, which he believes will be instrumental in bringing athletic excellence to match Cal’s academic reputation.
Ron Rivera Opens Up About His Role at Cal
Rivera was quick to clarify that his working relationship with Wilcox defies traditional hierarchical structures.
“I will report directly to the chancellor at the University of California,” Rivera explained, identifying Rich Lyons as his direct superior. Rather than establishing a chain of command with Wilcox, Rivera emphasized their partnership. “What I have with Justin is a working relationship… It’s not about, quote unquote, reporting as much as this is about working together.”
This collaborative approach extends throughout their daily interactions. Rivera praised the candid communication he shares with Wilcox during practices, meetings and throughout the facility. “He and I are here to work together and striving to make this football team one of the best,” he noted.
Despite this collaborative spirit, Rivera was clear about his comprehensive authority.
“My hands are in every facet of Cal football,” he said, highlighting his decision-making power across player development, recruitment, coaching staff decisions and game-day operations.
However, he stressed that major decisions involve consultation, particularly with the chancellor.
“I’m not making these things willy nilly,” Rivera explained. “I’m making these gathering as much information as I can… And if that means going to the chancellor and sitting down and saying, ‘Look, this is something that’s very vital, very important,’ I’m going to bring it to him.”
Navigating Challenges and Building a Vision for Cal’s Future
Rivera acknowledged the difficulties facing Cal football, particularly the recent transfers of key players like Jack Endries and Jaydn Ott. He contextualized these losses as part of a broader trend affecting programs nationwide. “You can’t name a team right now that doesn’t have a player that they wish didn’t go into this,” he observed.
The new GM assured fans that Cal has developed a strategic response to these departures. “We have a plan of action… If we can get these plans through fruition, I promise you we bring a few more guys in, you guys are going to look and go, ‘Wow, this team looks like it might be better than we were a month ago.'”
Central to Rivera’s vision is aligning Cal’s athletic accomplishments with its academic excellence. “We are at the number one academic institution in the world,” Rivera said proudly. “Because of that, because we have academic excellence, what I really believe in is trying to get Cal football to the point where we have athletic excellence.”
His message to frustrated Cal fans was straightforward. “Stop thinking about what’s interesting and start focusing on what’s important,” he advised. “The most important thing is we go out with a plan, we execute the plan, and now we get ready for summer football, get through the 2025 training camp and next thing you know, we’re in the regular season.”
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Rivera’s comprehensive strategy also includes strengthening donor relations, enhancing player development processes and positioning Cal to be competitive in its new conference home.
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