Cal Bears Basketball

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Men's Basketball

Mark Fox Reportedly Finalizing Contract to Become Cal Head Coach

Mar 29, 2019
Georgia coach Mark Fox answers questions during the Southeastern Conference men's NCAA college basketball media day Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2017, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Georgia coach Mark Fox answers questions during the Southeastern Conference men's NCAA college basketball media day Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2017, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

After sitting out the 2018-19 season, Mark Fox will reportedly be back in the college coaching ranks at the University of California. 

Per CBS Sports' Jon Rothstein on Friday, Fox is finalizing a contract to become Cal's next head basketball coach.

The Golden Bears were in the market for a new coach after Wyking Jones was fired on March 24 following back-to-back eight-win seasons. 

Following Jones' dismissal, John Canzano of The Oregonian reported former Cal star and Basketball Hall of Famer Jason Kidd was the school's top choice to take over the program. 

Per Evan Daniels of 247Sports, Cal hired Todd Turner of the College Sports Associates consultancy firm to help find its next head coach. 

The 50-year-old Fox will be tasked with building up a program that hasn't made the NCAA tournament since the 2015-16 season. 

In 14 seasons with Nevada and Georgia, Fox went 286-176 with five NCAA tournament appearances. He was fired by Georgia in March 2018. 

Cal Bears Fire HC Wyking Jones After 2 Seasons; Jason Kidd Linked to Opening

Mar 24, 2019

The California Golden Bears announced Sunday that they fired head basketball coach Wyking Jones after just two seasons with the team.

Jones produced just a 16-47 record during his two years at the helm, including an 8-23 mark in 2018-19. The squad lost its first 15 games in the Pac-12 this season and won only five conference games in his two years.

The Golden Bears had a 21-13 record the year before he took over, winning at least 20 games in seven of the last nine seasons. 

This was the 46-year-old's first head coaching job after serving as an assistant at a variety of locations, including two years with Cal under Cuonzo Martin.

Athletic director Jim Knowlton discussed the decision in a statement:

"This was a difficult decision to make and comes after a deliberate and holistic review of our men's basketball program. As always, we were guided by the best interests of our student-athletes, as well as the values and objectives of Cal Athletics and our University. As we quickly turn toward our search for a new head coach for our men's basketball program, I am certain that we will attract a strong, talented and highly qualified pool of candidates. I am confident that we will find someone who will help lead us on a path to being exceptional." 

Among those possible candidates is Basketball Hall of Famer Jason Kidd, according to Marc J. Spears of ESPN:

Kidd starred at Cal as a player but could want to continue his career as an NBA coach after serving the role for parts of five seasons.

Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN noted the Los Angeles Lakers could be an option for Kidd:

The Golden Bears would likely want to hire a new coach before the Lakers job even becomes available, which could complicate this search.

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