Investigation: Influential donors of Cal football refuse to donate due to Ron Rivera's involvement
According to SFGate, influential contributors to the Cal football name, image and likeness collective have declared that they will no longer donate money to the organization until former NFL head coach Ron Rivera is granted the power to lead the Golden Bears program.
Rivera, a former standout linebacker at Cal, was appointed as the school's first football general manager on March 20. His responsibilities include building a competitive program and raising funds.
However, two members of the California Legends Collective, a third-party NIL group, believe that Rivera should have a role similar to that of Andrew Luck at Stanford, and are sharing this viewpoint with other donors.
Luck was hired in November.
Kevin Kennedy, president of the California Legends Collective, explained to SFGate, "We feel a sense of duty to inform the donors who have supported us and contributed to our success over the years. We owe them transparency about our investments. It is in everyone's best interest to have clear reporting lines and to specify that Ron Rivera has full control over football."
At Cal, Rivera reports to university chancellor Rich Lyons, while head coach Justin Wilcox reports to athletic director Jim Knowlton.
Kennedy believes this is not the right structure.
He stated, "You don't hire Mario Andretti and ask him to sit in the passenger seat, right? There is a reason why you bring someone like that on board: to give them control."
When asked for a response, Lyons provided the following statement to SFGate:
"I am confident that we have the right individuals in the right positions, doing the right things to support a successful Cal Athletics football program. The landscape of college sports is constantly evolving, and Cal will continue to adapt accordingly."
In the 2024 season, Cal finished with a record of 6-7 (2-6 in the Atlantic Coast Conference), while Stanford had a record of 3-9 overall and 2-6 in their first year in the ACC.
