Coaching Accolades
- 5 NFL Draft Picks.
- Coached nation’s leader in 2025 receptions Jacob De Jesus.
- Coached nation’s leader in 2024 receptions Efton Chism III.
- Coached 2x 1st Team All-American & 2 Time 1st Team All Big Sky WR Efton Chism III (Eastern Washington).
- Coached 2x All-American & Walter Payton Award Winner QB Taylor Heinicke (Old Dominion).
- Coached All-Conference Selection WR Khalil Shakir (Boise State).
- Coached All-Conference Selection WR Brandon Smith (Texas State).
Notable Players Coached
- Jacob De Jesus (California)
- Efton Chism III (Eastern Washington)
- Jakobie Kenney-James (Eastern Washington)
- Tank Bigsby (Auburn)
- Shedrick Jackson (Auburn)
- Bo Nix (Auburn)
- Jarquez Hunter (Auburn)
- John Shenjer (Auburn)
- John Bates (Boise State)
- Khalil Shakir (Boise State)
- Hank Bachmeier (Boise State)
- Avery Williams (Boise State)
- John Ojukwu (Boise State)
- Taylor Heinicke (Old Dominion)
- Zach Pascal (Old Dominion)
- Antonio Vaughan (Old Dominion)
Travers Family Head Football Coach Tosh Lupoi announced the return of Jeff McDaniels on January 15, 2026. McDaniels is back for a second season at Cal in 2026 and will move into the role of assistant quarterbacks coach after working as an assistant with the team's offensive line and tight ends
Prior to Berkeley, McDaniels spent two seasons at Eastern Washington where he served as the wide receivers coach. Before his time in Cheney, he was at Auburn University for two seasons, where he was the Senior Offensive Analyst, assisting the coaching of the Receivers, Tight Ends and Running Backs.
While at Auburn he coached two current NFL players: Running Back Tank Bigsby, Jacksonville Jaguars (3rd Round pick) & Wide Receiver Shedrick Jackson, Cincinnati Bengals. He also helped coach Bo Nix during the 2021 season.
Over the last four weeks of the 2022 season at Auburn, McDaniels was elevated to Interim Running Backs Coach.
Before his elevation during the 2022 season, as the Senior Offensive Analyst he assisted all offensive skill position coaches and worked alongside the Offensive Coordinator / Quarterbacks Coach and Head Coach in game planning. During his first season at Auburn, he was the Offensive Skill Graduate Assistant Coach. He helped the Quarterback, Running Back, Receiver, and Tight Ends coaches in daily preparation in addition to game planning as well.
McDaniels came to Auburn from Boise State University, where he served as the Offensive Graduate Assistant Coach. He worked primarily with the Tight Ends & Offensive Line during his year with the Broncos. Two Bronco players were drafted at the conclusion of his season there: Tight End John Bates, Washington Commanders (4th Round pick) & Wide Receiver Khalil Shakir, Buffalo Bills (5th Round pick).
McDaniels came to Boise State after spending three seasons at Davidson College (FCS), his alma mater, coaching the Cornerbacks and serving as the program's Recruiting Coordinator. He also ran the Kickoff and Punt Units during his time there.
Before returning to Davidson, McDaniels spent two seasons at Texas State University as the Offensive Skill and Special Teams Graduate Assistant Coach. During the 2016 season McDaniels worked primarily with the Receivers and all of the Special Teams units. The Bobcats led the entire country in blocked kicks (8) in 2016. In his first season at Texas State, he worked with the Running backs and Tight Ends while again working with all Special Teams units. He helped Running Back Robert Lowe become the first Bobcat since 1997 to rush for over 900 yards in three-consecutive years. Lowe finished his career fourth on the all-time rushing yards list (3,027) and fourth in all-time rushing touchdowns (29). In the kicking game that season, the Bobcats finished near the top of nearly every primary kicking statistic in the Sun Belt Conference and receiver Brandon Smith was selected to the 2015 All-Sun Belt Conference Team as a Kick Returner.
Prior to Texas State, McDaniels served as the Offensive Quality Control Coach working with both the Quarterbacks and Receivers at Old Dominion University. During his season at ODU, he coached quarterback Taylor Heinicke, a two-time All-American and Walter Payton Award Winner (FCS Most Outstanding Player Award). He also worked with the two best statistical receivers in ODU history: Zach Pascal and Antonio Vaughan. Pascal ranks in the top-two of every receiving statistic in Monarch history and Vaughan is the all-time leader in receiving yards for the Monarchs.
A two-year letterman and Senior team captain for Davidson, McDaniels ranked second among receivers with 37 catches for 428 yards and three touchdowns as a Senior. During his Senior season he also was the leading punter and was named Davidson’s Special Teams Player of the Year by the coaching staff. He finished his playing career as a three-time Academic All-Pioneer League Football Member. His coaching career started during the spring of his senior year when he transitioned from a player to an offensive student assistant coach.
McDaniels graduated from Davidson College in 2014 with a Bachelor’s Degree in psychology with a minor in interpersonal and mass communication. He has a Master’s Degree with Honors in education and sports management from Old Dominion, and a second Master’s with Honors in mass communication with an emphasis in strategic communications from Texas State University.
