When Cal head coach Justin Wilcox went searching for the Golden Bears' next offensive coordinator, one of the people he talked to had quite the resume.

• Two decades coaching in the NFL and collegiate ranks, including 13 seasons as an offensive coordinator
• Tutored Pro Bowl quarterbacks Derek Carr, Matt Ryan and Steve Beuerlein
• Played in the NFL as a backup to Hall of Fame quarterbacks Joe Montana, Steve Young and John Elway
• Member of San Francisco 49ers' Super Bowl XXIX championship during the 1994 NFL season
• University of Oregon Hall of Fame selection 

Bill Musgrave's resume now has one more bullet point.

• Offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach at Cal

 "I wasn't sure he would be interested," Wilcox said about the big hire he made just a few days after the end of a promising 8-5 season in 2019 that, with most of the team returning, has Wilcox and the team's fans expecting more this season.

It turns out that not only was Musgrave interested, he is quite excited about the opportunities that lie ahead at Cal.

"It's a terrific opportunity to get on board with the momentum that's been generated by Justin Wilcox and the Cal players and coaches that have come before me," Musgrave said. "It's a great chance to contribute and be part of an ascending Pac-12 program."

He's also followed Wilcox's career and is looking forward to working with the Cal head coach that has led the Bears' turnaround the last three seasons.

"Justin has had a tremendous coaching career," Musgrave said. "He's been everywhere – Big Ten, SEC, Pac-12. He was really instrumental in Boise State's rise to prominence. I've enjoyed watching his ascent over the years. He and I have known one another for a long time. As he made his way through the coaching profession, I think that both of us hoped it might work out that we could coach together one day."

That one day has come to fruition in Berkeley. Even during his two decades in the NFL, returning to the collegiate game was something Musgrave always kept under consideration.  

"It's always been a possibility," said Musgrave, who last coached collegiately as the offensive coordinator at Virginia in 2001-02. "I enjoy athletics at all levels and always have ever since I was a little kid. I've never been one to differentiate between high school, collegiate and professional athletics. I had a great experience at all three levels as an athlete. I just enjoy being a part of competition and the teaching component that's involved at all three levels."

Musgrave is enthusiastic about teaching a Cal quarterback group that includes returning starter Chase Garbers, Devon Modster, Spencer Brasch, Robby Rowell and early enrollee Jaden Casey.

"We've got a new system with new terminology and new concepts, but they've got a very solid foundation that's been built from their previous coaches and are well prepared to be successful in our offense," Musgrave said. "I'm going to try to expand on that foundation and rely on their excellent training up to this point for them to be able to adapt."

"Having Coach Musgrave on our staff is a huge addition to our program," Garbers said. "His resume of success and coaching winning teams in the NFL shows the value he brings to the offensive side of the ball. He has the right kind of offensive philosophy and energy. The offense is super excited to have a guy with his stature coaching us."

Wilcox knew he struck gold with Musgrave's hiring.

"He just knows so much about offensive football," Wilcox said. "He's a tremendous teacher of the game and also a great person. He was the perfect fit for our program."

It's been just over two months since Musgrave came on board and he is adapting quite well to his new home in California Memorial Stadium.

"Look at this," he said excitedly as he showed off the skylights that bring the light into an otherwise windowless office and the adjacent quarterback room where he spends most of his day. "This is a great setup. It's all right here."

A lot of people are thinking the same thing about the Bears in 2020.