A new man with a new plan. It's Beau time.
Cal Poly has called upon Beau Baldwin to be the 17th head football coach in program history. The news was announced on Wednesday night during an introductory press conference held inside the Cal Poly Recreation Center.
"I mean this when I say I'm truly humbled. I'm humbled to be a part of this," Baldwin said. "I just know the rich history of that is involved with Cal Poly, both on the field and probably more importantly off the field."
Baldwin has spent the last three seasons as an assistant head coach and offensive coordinator at UC Berkeley, a member of the Pac-12 Conference. He says head coaching became an itch he wanted to scratch once again.
"This was an incredible opportunity, as hard as it was to leave, it was an incredible opportunity," Baldwin explained. "It was right, and it was right now. I can't wait. I'm so hungry to be a head coach."
Baldwin is tapped to replace Tim Walsh, who retired on November 25 after 11 seasons with Cal Poly. Cal Poly athletic director Don Oberhelman had to quickly search for his replacement, someone who fits the mold of what it means to be a Mustang. He got his guy.
"When you get the opportunity to hire somebody like Beau Baldwin, with his credentials, you have to take your shot and we did," Oberhleman said.
This isn't Baldwin's first go-around in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) and even the Big Sky Conference. He was the head coach at Eastern Washington University from 2008-2016, accumulating an 85-32 record while winning five conference titles. Baldwin guided the Eagles to six FCS playoff appearances and an FCS championship in 2010. He wants to bring that same sustained success to Cal Poly.
"I promise you the winning, and the consistency with winning," Baldwin said with confidence. "We will focus on what we need to do day-to-day, but make no means about it, we're pushing for a five-to-ten-year vision to be the premier team in this conference and compete nationally, period."
Baldwin's offensive prowess has turned out plenty of NFL talent. Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp set multiple FCS records for Baldwin while at Eastern Washington, including career yards, catches, and touchdowns. Kupp was a third round pick of the Rams in 2017.
Baldwin also coached Central Coast standout and Mission Prep grad Patrick Laird in Berkeley. Baldwin helped turn Laird, a walk-on, into a premier dual-threat running back who's now an un-drafted rookie taking snaps with the Miami Dolphins.
Walsh's triple-option offense posted some of the best rushing numbers in the country each year, but wins did not always accompany the gaudy stat lines. Baldwin says you can expect some changes in the future.
"You'll most likely see a 180 on offense. You will because it's what I believe," Baldwin stated emphatically. "It doesn't mean it will be a 180 in terms of the philosophy and how they play, because I have so much respect for that, but the style will be in the mold of a more multiple offense."
The task at hand will be turning around a Mustangs program which has finished with three-straight losing seasons.
Cal Poly ended this past year with a 3-8 overall record and ninth place in the Big Sky.
Baldwin's first game as a Mustang will come on Saturday, September 5, 2020 against Louisiana-Monroe.
