University of California Athletics

Nicholas Edwards is in his third season at Cal in 2019 and his first as the Golden Bears' running backs coach.

Edwards spent his first two campaigns at Cal working with the team's wide receivers including the duo of Vic Wharton III and Kanawai Noa, who have combined career totals of 241 receptions, 2933 yards receiving and 13 touchdowns. Moe Ways (34-383-1TD) and Jordan Duncan (20-267-4TD) also put up their best career numbers under Edwards' tutelage in 2018.

Prior to his arrival at Cal, Edwards spent three seasons (2014-16) as the wide receivers coach at his alma mater Eastern Washington also working under current Cal offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach and then Eagles’ head coach Beau Baldwin.

Eastern Washington compiled a 12-2 overall record with one of the victories a road win at Pac-12 opponent Washington State, reached the semifinals of the FCS playoffs and was a perfect 8-0 in the Big Sky Conference to win its second league title during Edwards’ third season on the Eagles' coaching staff in 2016.

Eastern Washington was also Big Sky champions in 2014, finishing 7-1 in league play and 11-3 overall en route to a quarterfinal appearance in the FCS playoffs.

Edwards coached four-time Eastern Washington All-American and current Los Angeles Rams' wide receiver Cooper Kupp, who totaled 428 receptions, 6464 receiving yards and 73 touchdown catches over 52 career games while shattering many of Edwards’ career records. Kupp compiled over 100 catches, 1400 receiving yards and 16 touchdown receptions during each of the three campaigns he was coached by Edwards. He had career highs and single-season school records of 117 receptions and 1700 receiving yards as a 2016 senior. In his first two NFL seasons in 2017 and 2018 despite missing the second half of his second NFL campaign with an injury, he caught 102 passes for 1435 yards receiving with 11 touchdown grabs while playing with former Cal quarterback and 2016 No. 1 overall NFL Draft selection Jared Goff.

Kupp was also one of three Eagles’ receivers in 2016 with over 75 catches and 1150 receiving yards with the others Kendrick Bourne (79-1201, 7 TD) and Shaq Hill (77-1157, 17 TD). In 2015, Kupp became only the second wide receiver in 42 years to win the Big Sky Offensive MVP Award and was a first-team all-league selection. Bourne added second-team All-Big Sky honors and EWU led the FCS in passing offense (353.3 ypg). Three of Edwards’ receivers earned All-Big Sky Conference accolades in his debut season in 2014 led by Kupp as a first-team selection after he caught 104 passes to break the previous school record of 95 set by Edwards in 2011. Hill (third team) and Bourne (honorable mention) were also honored by the league after EWU led the FCS in scoring offense (44.1 ppg) while ranking second in passing offense (328.6 ypg) and third in total offense (513.4 ypg).

Edwards began his playing career as a walk-on at Eastern Washington under Baldwin before eventually starting 45 of the 50 games he played in and 51 possible during his career. He played in all 38 EWU games his first three seasons until a knee injury sidelined him for part of his senior campaign. Edwards finished his career ranked among Eastern Washington’s all-time leaders in touchdown receptions (33, No. 2), receptions (215, No. 4), yards receiving (2634, No. 5) and points scored (202, No. 6). He finished fifth all-time in the school’s history in yards receiving and was sixth in points scored. As a junior in 2011, Edwards was selected to nine FCS All-America teams – including seven first-team selections – after catching a school-record 95 passes for 1250 yards and 19 touchdowns to lead the FCS. Edwards helped the Eagles win the 2010 FCS national title as a sophomore when he started all 15 games and had 57 catches for 614 yards with seven touchdown grabs.

Edwards was on offseason NFL rosters with Arizona and Seattle and turned down an opportunity to play for Edmonton in the Canadian Football League before moving into coaching full-time in 2014. He also served at EWU in the fall of 2013 as a strength and conditioning assistant after receiving his bachelor’s degree in recreation management from the school in 2012.

Edwards and his wife, Macca, have two sons, Kashmir and Kyrie.

Nicholas Edwards File
Birthdate: December 23, 1989
Hometown: Tacoma, WA
High School: Foss HS
College: Eastern Washington, 2012, Recreation Management
Family: Wife, Macca; Sons, Kashmir and Kyrie
 
Coaching History
Season: Team – Position (Champions, Postseason)
2013: Eastern Washington – Strength and Conditioning Assistant (Big Sky Champions, FCS Playoffs)
2014: Eastern Washington – Wide Receivers (Big Sky Champions, FCS Playoffs)
2015: Eastern Washington – Wide Receivers
2016: Eastern Washington – Wide Receivers (Big Sky Champions, FCS Playoffs)
2017: California – Wide Receivers
2018: California – Wide Receivers (Cheez-It Bowl)
2019: California – Running Backs

Last Updated
January 23, 2019