Vic So'oto is a lucky guy and he knows it.

Cal's 38-year-old co-defensive coordinator will take the field as a coach in his hometown for the first time Saturday night when the Golden Bears take on San Diego State at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego.

So'oto spent nearly all of his formative years in Oceanside, a San Diego suburb just 30 minutes north of Saturday's game, in what is known as the city's mid-valley area. Raised in traditional Polynesian and LDS cultures, his childhood homes often had more than 20 people living under one roof.

"I had a lot of cousins," So'oto said with a big smile. "That's what I grew up with. I just thought it was normal. We made it work."

Not only did it work at the time, his upbringing also made a profound impact on who the father of five is today.

"My parents worked really hard," So'oto said. "My dad was a police officer for 25 years, my mom worked three jobs. There was a lot of fun and music, but there was also a lot of discipline and church."
And a lot of football.

So'oto, along with his cousins and friends of which many will be in attendance Saturday night, were the kids throwing the football around, running on the dirt track and chasing each other under the bleachers at Friday night high school football games in Oceanside.

"I really didn't know anything other than high school football," said So'oto, who said that the only time he was allowed to watch television on Sundays was if one of their relatives was playing in an NFL game.

So'oto may not have seen much football outside of Oceanside as a kid, but eventually his football journey would take him to many other places.

That journey started on his first recruiting trip.

"It was my first time on a plane," So'oto said.

Over the last two decades, So'oto has been on lots of planes. After playing five collegiate seasons at BYU, where he met his wife, Ashley, the couple and eventually their five kids would move often as Vic pursued his career. As a player he made seven NFL stops in four years (Green Bay twice, Oakland, Washington, Arizona, New Orleans, Pittsburgh) and later he moved as a coach, starting in 2015 as an intern at his alma mater before later at Virginia and USC.

But things have become more stable at Cal, where in his fourth season with the Bears makes this stop longer than any of his previous ones since his collegiate playing days. He's also become a valuable commodity in his first campaign as the program's co-defensive coordinator with Cal second in the ACC in scoring defense (10.7 ppg) and third in rushing defense (82.3 ypg), while ranking in the top 20 nationally in both.

"Vic had a great reputation when we hired him and has been an awesome addition to our staff," Travers Family Head Coach Justin Wilcox said. "It's been awesome to watch him take on more responsibility. The more you give him the better he does. He's an intense, no-nonsense guy who demands a lot from the players, but he's got a great personality and everyone loves being around him."

"Coach Vic brings a great mentality as a coach," added outside linebacker Ryan McCulloch, who has blossomed while playing under So'oto. "He can do it all. He gets everyone ready to play schematically, physically and mentally."

So'oto's childhood friend Russell Tialavea, who would later become his roommate and teammate at BYU, knew he would be successful.

"Vic is a natural leader," Tialavea said. "As soon as he figured out he wanted to go into coaching and stuck to it, he was on a fast track to get to where he is now."

He and his family – Ashley and their five children Fia (14), Ave (13), Tre (11), Samson (9) and Mack (7) – have enjoyed being able to put down some roots.

"Coaching is a very selfish profession because you drag your family all over the country chasing something bigger," So'oto said. "But we're happy here. Our kids are knee-deep in youth and high school sports. We have friends and family around. I've been able to grow as a coach without having to leave and that is unique in this profession. It's been great to be able to grow where your feet are."

So'oto realizes how good he has it working for Wilcox.

"Coach Wilcox allows us to be who we are," So'oto said. "He encourages us to spend time with our family. We've been really blessed to be a part of this program."

And while So'oto is happy to be able to spend some time with his family, usually on Thursday nights, his job still demands a lot and he is appreciative of all Ashley does.

"She's always been supportive," So'oto said. "She does a great job of being there for our family when I can't physically be there because of my job."

As a former collegiate volleyball player at BYU-Hawai'i, Ashley knew what she was getting into when she married Vic and is happy to support him.

So'oto may not always be able to physically be there but he's a constant presence checking in on Ashley and his kids via FaceTime.

"I get a FaceTime from him before every one of his games," Ashley said proudly. "I've never felt like his job has taken more than it has given, because it has given us so much, and I am grateful for what it has blessed us with. I recognized early on how important football was to Vic, and I knew that wasn't changing."

And although So'oto's success in the game has afforded his family things he could only dream of during his humble beginnings in Oceanside, one thing So'oto said is not changing is the effort put in to succeed.

"We don't talk about stats or even grades," So'oto said about his conversations with his kids. "We talk about effort. When the standard is to try your hardest, good things will happen."
 
Photos courtesy of So'oto family.