California athletic director Jim Knowlton announced his retirement Monday after seven years. He will remain athletic director through July 1, the university said in a release. Chancellor Rich Lyons said the transition period will be used to implement a new leadership structure within the athletic department. According to ESPN’s Pete Thamel, Cal football coach Justin Wilcox will report to newly hired general manager Ron Rivera in the absence of an athletic director.
The shift in football oversight follows pressure from major athletics donors, who withheld contributions to the California Legends Collective – Cal’s primary third-party NIL collective – until Rivera received full control of the football program, according to SFGATE. Previously, Wilcox reported directly to Knowlton, while Rivera served in a more advisory role. Donors viewed Rivera’s NFL experience as better suited for a quasi-executive position overseeing football operations.
“It has been an incredible honor to serve at the University of California, Berkeley, the No. 1 public university in the country,” Knowlton said in the release. “The expectation of holistic excellence helps to drive everyone associated with the university, and our department is no exception. The combination of a world-class education, athletic excellence, an inclusive community, an awe-inspiring location and, most importantly, truly special people, make Cal a magnificent place to serve.”
During his seven years at Cal, Knowlton led the athletic department through major initiatives and challenges, including directing facility upgrades and playing a pivotal role in Cal’s move from the Pac-12 to the ACC — a decision largely driven by the collapse of the Pac-12 and the need for financial stability. Ironically, all…
Source link : https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/cal-ad-jim-knowlton-announces-retirement-football-coach-justin-wilcox-to-report-to-gm-ron-rivera/
Author : Cody Nagel
Publish date : 2025-06-16 15:45:00
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.
