EDITOR'S NOTE: This article has been modified since its original publish.
Former Auburn Tigers head football coach Bryan Harsin is back on the job market. His boss, now-ex-Cal Golden Bears football head coach Justin Wilcox, has vacated a seat that he may be in line to inherit now.
GM Ron Rivera sent a classy message to Wilcox in his departure, which comes nearly nine years after his hiring in January 2017. Rivera thanked Wilcox, but made it clear that the program needed new leadership in Berkeley.
"I want to thank Justin for all of his contributions to our football program, our athletic department and our university," Rivera said in a statement. "He has always comported himself with class and professionalism. After careful consideration, we believe the time has come for new leadership. We wish Justin the best of luck in his future endeavors."
Per CBS Sports' Chris Hummer, "Cal currently has a pair of interim athletic directors. It's expected that general manager Ron Rivera will have a large say in the upcoming coaching search to replace Wilcox. "
Per Footballscoop's Zach Barnett, "Still only 49, Wilcox is a West Coast native with (brief) experience in both the SEC and the Big Ten. He'll have options coaching on the defensive side of the ball in college football and the NFL."
Nearly a decade of coaching tenure, gone because Wilcox hired someone like Harsin. Wilcox hadn't had a winning season since being hired, and yet it was the season Harsin was brought on that he was shown the door.
It's not a one-to-one correlation. Perhaps more details will be shed soon. There isn't typically much smoke out of Cal given the lack of local interest in the team.
But if Harsin was anything like he was on the Plains, he was absolutely a contributing factor for why Wilcox is now jobless.