Ron Rivera lands job with college program

Ron Rivera has coached in the NFL for nearly three decades, but he is now trying a much different venture.

Rivera has been named the general manager of the football program at the University of California, the school announced on Thursday.

Rivera, who played linebacker at Cal from 1980-1983, said he is “fired up” about the opportunity to help build the football program at his alma mater.

“I am fired up to be coming home,” Rivera said. “My love and passion for Cal has never changed, and I couldn’t be more excited about the future of our football program. I look forward to working with Chancellor Lyons as we look to Jim Knowlton, Justin Wilcox and all of our staff and players to compete for championships as we move forward in this new and rapidly changing era of college football.”