Michalczik to join Raiders staff

Jim Michalczik, who left Cal to become the offensive coordinator for the University of Washington in mid-December, won’t ever coach a game for the Huskies because he was hired by the Raiders on Monday to work for new coach Tom Cable, a longtime friend. The two became friends during their playing days when Michalczik played at Washington State and Cable played at Idaho. This was also a return home for Michalczik who was commuting back and forth from the Bay Area to Seattle so he wouldn’t have to uproot his family.

New Huskies coach Steve Sarkisian is probably not too happy to see his offensive coordinator back out after a month, but don’t expect the Raiders or Al Davis to care. Sarkisian is the one who turned down their head coaching job in 2007, which led to the 20-game Lane Kiffin era.

It was considered a coup for new Huskies coach Steve Sarkisian when he lured Michalczik away from Cal with a three-year contract with $350,000 annually. Michalczik is widely considered one of the best offensive line coaches on the West Coast.

Cable will focus on the offensive play calling next season while Michalczik tends to the line. Cable will continue to use the zone-blocking scheme, but Al Davis made it clear at Cable’s hiring press conference last week he wants some more power in the blocking scheme.

Here is some of Jim Michalczik’s stats:

He was promoted from offensive line coach to offensive coordinator for Cal in February of 2007. He was part of Jeff Tedfords staff since he came to Cal in 2002 and helped Cal become one of he top 25 offenses in the country nearly every season. Also Cal has led the Pac-10 in sacks allowed in each of the past two seasons as opponents have just 24 sacks in the last 26 games against the Bears (third-best in the nation). The offensive line has helped Cal’s offense average more than 350 yards each of the past six seasons, including a school-record 492.4 ypg in 2004. Cal has produced six 1,000-yard rushers, including one 2,000-yard rusher over the past six years. Cal ranked in the Top 10 nationally in rushing offense in 2004 (ninth) and 2005 (sixth), while leading the Pac-10 in rushing offense in both 2003 and 2004.