Michael Hutchings

Biography

Travers Family Head Football Coach Tosh Lupoi announced the hiring of Michael Hutchings as the program's defensive coordinator on December 26, 2025. Hutchings comes to Berkeley after three seasons with the NFL's Minnesota Vikings. For the last two years, he served as the team's safeties coach after being elevated from his role as an assistant defensive backs coach in 2023. Overall, Hutchings brings eight years of coaching experience - both collegiately and professionally - to Lupoi's staff. Before his time in the NFL, Hutchings spent time at Western Kentucky (2022), Oregon (2021) and USC (2018-20). He was the outside linebackers coach for the Hilltoppers during a 9-5 campaign. Before his time in Kentucky, he served as a defensive analyst under Mario Cristobal at Oregon and began his coaching career at his alma mater, USC. During his time at USC, Hutchings helped lead a dramatic improvement in the Trojans' defense from 2019 to 2020, with total yards allowed per game dropping from 408.7 to 369.7 and passing yards allowed per game falling from 246.2 to 216.3. The Concord native played four seasons (2013-16) at inside linebacker for USC, making 15 starts and recording 118 tackles, including eight tackles for loss, 3.0 sacks, two passes defensed and one interception. Hutchings received his bachelor's degree in communications and a master's degree in communication management from USC.