Chicago Tribune: California dreamin' for NU coordinator

Dunbar switches schools, but not responsibilities

By Terry Bannon

The assistant coach who helped make Northwestern one of the nation's most potent offenses has left the Wildcats. Offensive coordinator Mike Dunbar is taking the same job at California, working for head coach Jeff Tedford, a noted quarterback guru. "Cal football is on the rise and this was something I wanted to try at this time," said Dunbar, 57, who grew up in the Seattle area and graduated from Washington. "And the West Coast was a lure too." Garrick McGee, who has been Northwestern's receivers coach the last two years, is expected to succeed Dunbar.

Last season Dunbar's offense was fourth in the nation in total yardage and seventh in passing . The Wildcats led the Big Ten in both categories. They set team records with 6,004 yards of total offense and 674 in one game (against Wisconsin). "I've always respected Northwestern's offense," Tedford said. "And I know Mike is a quality person. I'm excited about what he will bring to the program." Dunbar also coached the Wildcats' quarterbacks and Brett Basanez finished his career as the first-team Big Ten quarterback and was voted offensive player of the year by the media. "Anytime you lose a great coach, you miss him," Basanez said. "Whoever steps up to the plate will be fine, but it will take some time. "He taught me the system, my reads, how to be smart, work through my mistakes. "He has been around the game so long, knows it so well. He teaches every little thing, pays attention to basics and he gives his players a chance to shine."

Dunbar moved to Northwestern in 2001 after compiling a 29-15 record in four seasons as head coach at Northern Iowa. In his first year in Evanston, he coached H-backs and tight ends and was special-teams coordinator. He became offensive coordinator in 2002 when Kevin Wilson left for Oklahoma.  Dunbar succeeds George Cortez, who had been at Cal since 2002, also Tedford's first year. Cortez, who was a Calgary Stampeders assistant before moving to Berkeley, is pursuing a job as an NFL assistant.