Three years is a long time. A lot can change over a span like that. On the other hand, a lot can stay the same, too.
Three years ago today, Mike Bloesch was in Denton, Texas, preparing for his first game coaching the offensive line at North Texas. This week, he's doing it all over again. But Saturday, Bloesch and his loved ones in the stands at DATCU Stadium won't be wearing green on the first day of the 2023 season – they'll be rocking California football gear.
"It's crazy. You take a new job and you're obviously not basing your decision on the schedule or anything," Bloesch said. "But once you get settled in and realize North Texas is going to be your first game, it's kind of funny the way it works out."
The 2020 season was the first of three straight that ended in a bowl game appearance at UNT for Bloesch. Serving as the offensive coordinator, offensive line coach and quarterbacks coach during his stint with the Mean Green, he guided an offense that broke multiple school records and finished in the top 25 nationally for total offense three straight times.
In Bloesch's first season in Denton, UNT put up a whopping 513.2 yards per game, good for the eighth-highest average in the country. In 2022, the Mean Green's stellar offensive line took the spotlight, allowing the fewest per-game sacks (0.79) and tackles for loss (4.07) in Conference USA. Those marks ranked fifth and 13th in the nation, respectively, and helped the team claim seven victories, its most in five years.
Not long after what proved to be Bloesch's final game on the UNT sideline – a slim 35-32 defeat to Boise State in the Frisco Bowl in which the Mean Green registered its most-ever offensive yards in a bowl game with 435 – he received a call from Cal offensive coordinator and long-time peer Jake Spavital.
When Spavital inquired about Bloesch's interest in a position as the Golden Bears' offensive line coach and run game coordinator, it didn't take long for Bloesch to make his decision.
"To get with a guy like Jake that I knew has been successful everywhere he's been, who was going to have a great balance between work and family life – things that are important to me – it was a no-brainer," Bloesch said. "Then, when I met [Travers Family Head Coach Justin Wilcox], it solidified the deal because he had the same values that I have. I'm really excited about what we have going and what we're going to build here."
Since January, Bloesch has hit the ground running with the Bears, staying true to the same coaching philosophies that have brought his teams success throughout his 14-year career. When discussing his leadership style and teaching methods, whether talking to him or the members of his new offensive line, one word in particular is sure to come up: consistency.
"Right when [Bloesch] got here, he was already saying it every single day; he wants the most consistent five guys," redshirt junior right tackle T.J. Session said. "And he's really consistent in everything that he says and does; it never really changes. He brings that 'I want to get better every day' energy. You can tell he just wants to be the best version of himself and that makes us want to get better."
Session – who started in seven of his 11 appearances during his debut season with the Bears in 2022 – is one player who has improved since the coaching change. A big part of that is his increased level of comfortability this year, which he credits to Bloesch's communication and adaptability.
"[Bloesch] is really creative with his calls and he gives us a little bit more freedom in what we do," Session said. "It's not always like, 'You have to do this and this is the only thing you can do.' He lets us express ourselves more on the field and he's open to change. If we talk to him about something we see, he'll talk to the rest of the coaching staff to see if we need to make a change. He's definitely a good listener."
Another beneficiary of Bloesch's arrival has been sixth-year center Matthew Cindric. As Cal's current active career leader for games played and started, Cindric is no stranger to different coaching styles at this level. So far, his experience with Bloesch has been nothing short of excellent.
"[Bloesch] just came in with a great mindset for us that [the offensive line is] the engine of the team, and the team goes as we go," Cindric said. "He's got a great balance of intensity and focus and he comes in with a very straightforward approach. He says what's on his mind, he lets us know where we need to get better and what we're doing well. We're excited to have this new approach, this new offense, and we're ready to take advantage of our opportunities."
Bloesch and the Bears are chomping at the bit to get this season underway. While he does plan to enjoy seeing familiar faces at his old stomping grounds, Bloesch is solely focused on one thing: beginning the year with a win.
"I'm just excited to watch our guys play. They've got a chip on their shoulder, and so do I, to prove that we've got some damn good guys on our O-Line that can help us win some games," Bloesch said. "I'll have family and friends that I'll see after the game who will be wearing Cal football gear, but I'm taking this thing as a business trip and getting our guys ready to get a big win on te road to start this season 1-0."
The Bears take on North Texas at 1:00 p.m. PT on Saturday.
