Justin Wilcox announced on Tuesday that former offensive line coach Steve Greatwood is coming out of retirement to join the program as an analyst and offer some help for a sputtering offense.

Greatwood retired from coaching after the 2019 season, departing with four decades of experience in coaching. A former Oregon Duck, Greatwood served two stints as an Oregon coach from 1980-94 and from 2000-16. He left in 2017 to join Wilcox’s staff at Cal. When he retired three seasons later, Wilcox called him one of the best offensive line coaches in the history of the game.

On Tuesday, he said Greatwood could bring a “fresh” perspective for a group that has lost three of its last four games.

“It’s a performance-based business, for the coaches and players alike,” Wilcox said, via Bear Insider. “We have made a couple adjustments with our lineup this season and there’s a potential that could still evolve this week and in coming weeks. In terms of personnel, we added an analyst to the staff who’s familiar with us, Steve Greatwood. He joined us Sunday. An extra set of eyes and a person who’s universally respected, not only as an offensive line coach but as an offensive coach. Eyes and ears and maybe a little fresh perspective.

“Any chance to help make the program better and he’s here to support our staff and we welcome him back.”

The Bears rank 11th in the Pac-12 in both yards per play (5.58) and scoring offense (23.7 points a game). They lost to Colorado on Saturday, 20-13 in overtime. It was the Buffaloes’ first win of the season.

And it doesn’t get any easier for Cal going forward. This week begins three straight against the top of the conference. The Bears host Washington (5-2, 2-2 Pac-12) on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. PT on ESPN. Then they’ll welcome No. 10 Oregon to Memorial Stadium on Oct. 29 and travel to Los Angeles to battle No. 12 USC on Nov. 5.