Tosh Lupoi on What He Looks for in Players and Building a Winning Team

New Cal head football coach **Tosh Lupoi** joins the North Carolina Sports Network’s David Glenn Show to discuss returning home to lead his alma mater, working alongside Ron Rivera, rebuilding the Golden Bears through recruiting and the transfer portal, and re-recruiting quarterback **Jarin Sagapolutele**.For Lupoi, becoming Cal’s head coach represents the fulfillment of a lifelong dream. He reflects on playing for the Golden Bears in the early 2000s, growing up in the Bay Area, and the influence his grandfather had on developing his work ethic before a coaching career that eventually took him to the NFL and Oregon.Lupoi explains how Cal’s combination of **elite academics and NFL tradition** shapes his recruiting pitch in the modern ACC. He also discusses the arrival of former Carolina Panthers head coach and Cal great **Ron Rivera**, Chancellor Richard Lyons, and the series of events that ultimately led to Lupoi interviewing for and landing the job.After being hired, Lupoi quickly flew to Hawaii to re-recruit quarterback **Jarin Sagapolutele**. He explains what he looks for when evaluating players — competitiveness, toughness, leadership, football IQ and adaptability — and discusses the process of assembling one of the nation’s top transfer portal classes.Lupoi also reflects on lessons from the **Jeff Tedford era**, how college football continues to evolve, and why successful programs must embrace change while maintaining their identity.**CHAPTERS**00:00 Introducing Tosh Lupoi00:43 Lifelong Cal Dream01:16 Bay Area Roots01:55 Grandfather’s Work Ethic03:03 Recruiting Pitch Today05:41 Coaching Mindset06:51 Ron Rivera Connection09:35 Sponsor Break10:15 Pronouncing JKS11:01 Hawaii Re-Recruitment13:47 Building the Portal Class14:16 What Makes a Recruiter16:14 Tedford Era Lessons18:04 Closing Thanks18:12 NCSN Sign-OffWELCOME TO THE NORTH CAROLINA SPORTS NETWORKNorth Carolina sports. North Carolina stories. The BOLD NORTH STATE.Our mission: Tell the stories of the BOLD NORTH STATE and connect fans, communities and brands through sports.🎥 NCSN ORIGINAL PROGRAMMING🎙️ THE DAVID GLENN SHOWFeaturing two-time North Carolina Sportscaster of the Year David Glenn with decades of experience and unmatched perspective on ACC and college sports.📚 THIS WAS THENTim Peeler and Todd McGee tell the stories behind North Carolina’s proud sporting past.🏈🏀 THE COACHES ROOMA weekly look inside the decisions, challenges, and pressures coaches face on and off the field, with Football, Basketball, and seasonal editions.⭐ BOLD NORTH STATEHost Mike Waddell showcases North Carolina sports, people, places, events, food, culture, and lifestyle.🏟️ BOLD NORTH STATE TAILGATENorth Carolina’s only traveling sports circus, taking NCSN on the road to major games, rivalries, championships, races, tournaments and festivals.WATCH. LISTEN. FOLLOW.🌐 NCSportsNetwork.com🎧 Spotify, Apple Podcasts & more📲 @TheNCSportsNet on all platforms▶️ Subscribe on YouTube and turn on notifications.🤝 PROUD PARTNERS OF NCSNSTIFEL | THE FOUNDERS GROUP[https://www.thefoundersgroup-stifel.com/](https://www.thefoundersgroup-stifel.com/)EXCEL MOVING & STORAGE[https://www.excelms.com/](https://www.excelms.com/)JIMMY’S WRIGHTSVILLE BEACHInstagram: @jimmyswrightsvillebeachJIMMY’S INLANDInstagram: @jimmysinlandKING NEPTUNE[https://www.neptuneswb.com/](https://www.neptuneswb.com/)THE ORIGINAL SALTWORKSInstagram: @theoriginalsaltworksAMEDEO’S ITALIAN RESTAURANT[https://amedeosrestaurant.com/](https://amedeosrestaurant.com/)SAMMY’S TAP & GRILL[https://sammystapgrill.com/](https://sammystapgrill.com/)PEPSI[https://www.pepsi.com/](https://www.pepsi.com/)MUSCLE MILK[https://www.musclemilk.com/](https://www.musclemilk.com/)THE NORTH CAROLINA SPORTS NETWORKThe Voice of the BOLD NORTH STATE.#CalFootball #CalBears #ToshLupoi #RonRivera #JarinSagapolutele #ACC #CollegeFootball #DavidGlennShow